India registers strong protest with US over vandalism at Indian Consulate in San Francisco

India has registered a strong protest with the US Charge d'Affaires in Delhi over the incident of vandalism at the Indian consulate general in San Francisco by some pro-Khalistan elements.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has asked the US government to take appropriate measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. "In a meeting with the US Charge d'Affaires in New Delhi, India conveyed its strong protest at the vandalisation of the property of the Consulate General of India, San Francisco," the MEA said in a statement.

"The US Government was reminded of its basic obligation to protect and secure diplomatic representation. It was asked to take appropriate measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents," it said. "Our Embassy in Washington D.C. also conveyed our concerns to the US State Department along similar lines," the MEA said in a brief statement. A group of pro-Khalistan protesters on Sunday attacked and damaged the Indian Consulate in San Francisco.

Raising pro-Khalistan slogans, the protesters broke open the makeshift security barriers raised by the city police and installed two so-called Khalistani flags inside the Consulate premises. Two consulate personnel soon removed these flags. Thereafter, a group of protesters entered the consulate premises and started hitting the door and windows with iron rods.

Meanwhile, the United States has condemned the incident and said that the state department is working with authorities to properly investigate the incident.

"We certainly condemn that vandalism, it's absolutely unacceptable. State Department's diplomatic security service is working with local authorities to properly investigate. State department will work on infrastructure perspective to repair the damage," US NSC spokesperson John Kirby on the incident.

Last night, India summoned the British deputy high commissioner and demanded an explanation over the complete "absence of security" around the Indian mission in London after videos of the Indian flag being pulled down from the premises during a protest by pro-Khalistan elements emerged on social media.

In a strongly-worded statement, the MEA said India finds "unacceptable" the indifference of the UK government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK. The tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission in London was grabbed at by the protesters waving separatist flags and chanting pro-Khalistan slogans on Sunday. After the incident, police arrested one person related to the violent disorder.

In a similar incident, some pro-Khalistani elements attempted to pull down the Indian flag at the Indian High Commission in London.

The tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission in London was grabbed at by a group of protesters waving separatist Khalistani flags and chanting pro-Khalistani slogans on Sunday evening.

The Indian government has demanded an explanation for the complete absence of the British security that allowed "these elements to enter the High Commission premises. The top diplomat was reminded of the basic obligations of the UK Government under the Vienna Convention.

Dubai-returned Amritpal was last year anointed the head of 'Waris Punjab De', which was founded by actor and activist Deep Sidhu who died in a road accident in February last year.

Last month, Amritpal and his supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and barged into Ajnala police station on the outskirts of Amritsar city, and clashed with police for the release of one of his aides. Six policemen were injured in the incident. Punjab Police filed an FIR on February 23 in connection with the incident.

With inputs from PTI