NIA Seeks Info Of 10 Wanted Pro-Khalistan Accused In San Francisco Indian Consulate Attack

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NIA Seeks Info Of 10 Wanted Pro-Khalistan Accused In San Francisco Indian Consulate Attack

NIA Seeks Info Of 10 Wanted Pro-Khalistan Accused In San Francisco Indian Consulate Attack (Image: Twitter/NIA_India)

The National Investigative Agency (NIA) on Thursday issued three separate requests demanding information from the public to identify ten wanted Khalistani extremists accused in San Francisco Indian Consulate attack case.

The Indian Consulate in San Francisco, United States, was attacked and damaged on 18 and 19 of March 2023 by Khalistani separatists. They also tried to set the diplomatic facility on fire.

The move initiated by NIA comes amid a dispute between India and Canada over the Canadian PM’s claim of “credible allegations” that the Indian government is involved in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan Sikh terrorist. India has already dismissed these allegations as “absurd” and “motivated”. The row get more worsened as both of the country expelled senior diplomats. India also suspended visa services in Canada on Thursday citing ‘operational reasons’.

NIA has issued three separate “requests for identification and information” notices against the wanted accused, seeking any information of importance that could lead to their arrest or apprehension. Two of the notices carry photographs of two accused each, the third notice shows pictures of the other six accused allegedly involved in the case.

It has also mentioned telephone numbers and email ids for sharing any information regarding the wanted, promising that the identity of anyone who shares the information remains undisclosed.

“The attack on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco took place on the intervening night of March 18-19, when some pro-Khaliatani elements trespassed into the consulate and tried to burn down the structure”, reads the NIA statement.

“On the same day, slogan-shouting Khalistani supporters had broken through the makeshift security barriers raised by the city police and put up two so-called Khalistani flags on the consulate premises, damaged the building, assaulted and caused injuries to the consulate officials”, said NIA.

“Furthermore in the intervening night of July 1-2, some accused trespassed into the consulate and attempted to set the consulate on fire while consulate officials were inside the building”, NIA added.

The NIA had initiated a probe in the matter after registering a case on June 16 under sections 109,120-B, 147, 148, 149, 323, 436, 448 and 452 of the IPC, section 13 of UA(P) Act and section 3(1) of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

An NIA team had visited San Francisco in August for an investigation into the matter.

NIA is a specialized counter-terrorism law enforcement agency in India, which  is empowered to deal with the investigation of terror crimes across states without special permission from the states under written proclamation from the Ministry of Home Affairs.