Hearth Set at San Francisco’s Indian Consulate is Second Assault on Diplomatic Submit This 12 months

The U.S. State Division on Monday condemned a fireplace set over the weekend exterior the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, the second act of vandalism this 12 months towards the diplomatic put up.

Hearth crews have been known as about 2 a.m. Sunday to the Consulate Basic of India at 540 Arguello Blvd., the place they discovered a smoldering particles fireplace on the sidewalk. The fireplace broken the entrance door and entryway, in accordance with San Francisco fireplace officers.

The blaze was set by supporters of a Khalistan, a proposed separatist state in northwest India for the nation’s Sikh non secular minority, Reuters reported. The Khalistan motion and teams that assist it are banned in India as a nationwide safety menace.

In March, Sikh protesters smashed home windows on the diplomatic workplace and skirmished with consulate staff throughout an illustration. That demonstration got here after police in India launched a manhunt to seize Amritpal Singh, a separatist chief who backs the Khalistan motion.

The State Division did not point out Sikhs in a statement posted Monday on Twitter concerning the current fireplace, saying that the U.S. “strongly condemns the reported vandalism and tried arson towards the Indian Consulate in San Francisco.”

The put up from State Division spokesman Matthew Miller stated “Vandalism or violence towards diplomatic services or international diplomats within the U.S. is a legal offense.”

Following the State Division put up, San Francisco fireplace officers posted on Twitter that an investigation into the blaze was ongoing.

The consulate didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon Tuesday morning.