New Delhi: Protesting Khalistanis Saturday assaulted the senior journalist of Indian news agency Press Trust of India outside the Indian Embassy in Washington DC.
The Khalistanis not only verbally abused Lalit K Jha while covering the protest but they physically assaulted the senior journalist in a country which boasts on security matters.
Detailing how one of the Khalistanis hit his left ear with the sticks, Jha, in a tweet, thanked US Secret Service for protecting him.
Advertisment
Thank you @SecretService 4 my protection 2day 4 helping do my job, otherwise I would have been writing this from hospital. The gentleman below hit my left ear with these 2 sticks & earlier I had to call 9/11 & rushed 2 police van 4 safety fearing physical assault. pic.twitter.com/IVcCeP5BPG
Jha reported that many of Khalistani speakers tried to incite violence, but timely intervention by an alert US Secret Service and local police prevented a repeat of London and San Francisco incidents of vandalism at the mission.
Separatist Sikhs, who gathered outside the Indian Embassy in downtown Washington DC on Saturday, heralded abusive language and openly threatened Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu. The Ambassador was not in the embassy at the time of the protest.
Advertisment
#WATCH | Washington DC: Earlier today Khalistanis protested and threatened Indian ambassador to the United States Taranjit Sandhu and the embassy staff. pic.twitter.com/ALL5E1Hjlg
Some of the speakers were seen inciting fellow protestors to indulge in violence and break the windows and glasses of the building across the road.
In their speeches, most of the protestors were seen trying to incite violence not only in India but here as well, including physical damage to the Indian Embassy property.
Advertisment
Sensing that things might go out of control, the Secret Service and the local police quickly brought in reinforcement and more forces were deployed and at least three police vans were placed in front of the Embassy.
At one point of time, five protesters quickly crossed the road and were about to break into the temporary marker of the embassy property near the pole unfurling the tricolour before they were asked to leave.
Secret Service personnel, who were closely watching this, in no time rushed to the spot and asked the protesters to go back to the designated protest area, before any untoward incident could happen.
Advertisment
It appeared that the protesters had come prepared to do something similar like damaging Indian properties at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco and the Indian High Commission in London.
Jha also saw separatists bringing two bundles of wooden sticks that were kept in the park that has the status of Mahatma Gandhi in front of the embassy.
The wooden sticks were similar to those which were used to break the door and windows and smash the glasses of the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. While one bundle was used to display the separatist flag, the other bundle of about 20 sticks was kept aside.
Advertisment
Reacting to this, the Indian Embassy released a statement deploring the cowardly behaviour.
“We have seen disturbing visuals of a senior Indian journalist from Press Trust of India being abused, threatened & assaulted physically while covering the so-called ‘Khalistan protest’ 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 in law enforcement agencies, who responded promptly,” the statement from Indian Embassy in Washington DC said.
We condemn such a grave and unwarranted attack on a senior journalist. Such activities only underscore the violent and anti-social tendencies of the so-called ‘Khalistani protestors’ and their supporters, who routinely engage in wanton violence and vandalism,” the Embassy said.
/newsdrum-in/media/agency_attachments/ipXwqL5g8EOqSkmkiZUK.png)
Follow Us