The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has assumed charge of the probe into a string of assaults carried out by Khalistani militants on Indian embassies in the US and Canada, sources in the Delhi police said.
The Delhi Police Special Cell had previously registered two FIRs under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) regarding the attacks that took place in March in San Francisco and Toronto in March.
According to the sources, the police chose to transfer the investigation to the NIA after carefully considering the matter because of the NIA's experience with cases involving terrorism and international aspects.
There have been incidents recently where pro-Khalistan protesters in the US have threatened New Delhi's ambassador to Washington, Taranjit Singh Sandhu. On March 20, multiple videos captured a large mob launching an attack on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, while loud Punjabi music played in the background.
The assailants vandalised the outer wall of the building by spray-painting a prominent graffiti that read "Free Amritpal", referring to the jailed Waris De chief Amritpal Singh.
The attackers used the wooden butts of Khalistan flags, which they had been waving earlier, to smash the glass doors and windows of the Consulate. Despite the mob breaching a barricade, they could not enter the Consulate premises.
Also in March, pro-Khalistan supporters organised a protest outside the Consulate General of India in Toronto during which they reportedly engaged in acts of aggression towards Indian-origin journalists who were present at the scene.
In reaction, the External Affairs Ministry expressed "strong concern about the actions of separatist and extremist elements" and "sought an explanation on how such elements were allowed, in the presence of police, to breach the security of our diplomatic Mission and Consulates".