NIA Raids 14 Locations In Punjab, Haryana Over Attacks At Indian Consulate In San Francisco

The raided locations were spread across Moga, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Gurdaspur, Mohali, Patiala in Punjab, and Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar in Haryana, reported news agency ANI.

NIA on Wednesday conducted raids at 14 locations in Punjab and Haryana. ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday conducted raids at 14 locations in Punjab and Haryana as part of its continuing investigations into the attacks on the Indian consulate in San Francisco US, in March and July.

The raided locations were spread across Moga, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Gurdaspur, Mohali, Patiala in Punjab, and Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar in Haryana, reported news agency ANI.

As a result of the crackdown, the federal agency seized digital data containing information related to the accused persons, along with other incriminating documents.

According to ANI, the raids were conducted by the NIA to unravel the complete conspiracy behind the attacks on March 19, 2023, and July 2, 2023. The case is related to criminal trespass, vandalism, damage to public property, and attempts to cause hurt to the officials of the Indian Consulate in San Francisco and set the Consulate building on fire through acts of arson.

The motive behind the ongoing investigation is to identify and prosecute the attackers and the assailants of the attacks and send a strong message to such anti-Indian elements.

According to PTI, a team of the NIA had visited San Francisco in August 2023 to probe the incidents of attacks on the consulate through violent acts of arson and vandalism.

As part of its investigations, the NIA said that it has crowd-sourced information to identify and collect information about US-based entities and individuals involved in these violent incidents.

As per ANI, the federal agency has already identified certain individuals who were part of the conspiracy, which includes the attackers and many of their associates, who are both Indian and foreign nationals.

According to PTI, India’s consulate in San Francisco on July 2 came under an attack from Khalistan supporters who tried to set the diplomatic facility on fire. 

Similarly, on March 19, a group of pro-Khalistan protesters attacked and damaged the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. Raising pro-Khalistan slogans, the protesters broke open the makeshift security barriers raised by the local police and installed two so-called Khalistani flags inside the Consulate premises.