A Washington-based Indian journalist took to Twitter on Sunday and claimed a group of Khalistan supporters berated him while he was covering a pro-Khalistan protest outside the Indian embassy on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in the United States condemned the incident, calling it a “serious and unjustified attack” on a senior journalist.
Lalit K Jha, PTI news agency’s chief US correspondent, thanked the US Secret Service for “protecting” him in his work and “helping” him do my job. Otherwise I would have written this from the hospital. The gentleman below hit my left ear with these 2 sticks and earlier I had to call 911 and rushed 2 police cars 4 to safety fearing physical assault. (she)”
Speaking to ANI news agency, Jha said: “At one point I felt so threatened that I called 911 (emergency number in the US). Then I spotted Secret Service officials and told them what had happened.”
“The pro-Khalistan protesters in support of Amritpal Singh waved Khalistan flags and arrived at the embassy in the presence of US intelligence. They even openly threatened to destroy the embassy and threatened the Indian Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu,” Jha was quoted as saying by ANI.
According to the news agency, the protesters came from different parts of the DC-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) area.
Upon learning of the incident, the Indian Embassy in the US issued a statement, saying: “We have seen disturbing images of a senior Indian journalist from the Press Trust of India, who was being mistreated, threatened and physically assaulted while speaking about the so-called ‘Khalistan protest’ reported” in Washington DC. We understand that the journalist was first verbally intimidated, then physically assaulted and, fearing for his personal safety and well-being, had to call law enforcement, who responded promptly.”
“We condemn such a serious and unjustified attack on a senior journalist. Such activities only underscore the violent and anti-social tendencies of the so-called “Khalistani protesters” and their supporters, who routinely engage in wanton violence and vandalism. We thank law enforcement agencies for their quick response on this matter,” the embassy added.
Meanwhile, a large number of Indian-Americans who are renouncing the tricolor held a peace rally outside the Indian consulate in San Francisco on Saturday to express their solidarity with India following the vandalism of the facility by Khalistan supporters earlier this week.
This comes days after a group of pro-Khalistan protesters attacked and damaged the Indian consulate in San Francisco.
“The attack on the Indian consulate by fringe elements worried not only Indian-Americans, but the entire world community. Hand in hand, we wanted to show our solid support and solidarity with India,” the PTI news agency quoted Satish Vale, a technology expert and community worker as saying.
(With contributions from agencies)