The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has shared its findings with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding the March 2023 attack on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. The NIA aims to facilitate a swift prosecution of the perpetrators involved in the incident.
During their visit to the United States, a high-level U.S. delegation led by FBI Director Christopher A. Wray engaged in detailed discussions with senior NIA officials. The NIA provided the delegation with crucial information, including insights into the connection between terrorists and organized criminal networks.
FBI Director Wray expressed the FBI’s commitment to aggressively investigate the attack. Currently, the FBI’s case is still ongoing, and investigations are underway.
In September 2023, the NIA released photographs of ten individuals wanted in connection with the attack and vandalism at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. The agency issued three separate Request for Identification & Information notices, urging the public to provide any relevant information that would aid in the arrest or detention of the accused individuals.
The NIA initiated the case in June 2023 under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. This move aimed to investigate the attack, which occurred on the night of March 18 and 19, 2023, when certain pro-Khalistan entities unlawfully entered the consulate premises in an attempt to set it on fire.
On the same day, a group of pro-Khalistan supporters breached the makeshift security barriers set up by local police and raised two pro-Khalistan flags on the consulate premises. They also caused damage to the building and assaulted consulate officials, resulting in injuries.
Additionally, the NIA has been probing another case related to an attack on the High Commission of India in London on March 19 of the previous year. During their visit to India, the NIA questioned individuals associated with this case and subsequently conducted raids in Punjab and Haryana.
In the attack on the Indian High Commission in London, roughly 50 pro-Khalistan individuals disrespected the Indian National flag, inflicted damage on public property, and assaulted officials. Following their investigations, the NIA identified individuals allegedly responsible for organizing the attack, including Gurcharan Singh of Dal Khalsa, United Kingdom, Avtar Singh Khanda of Khalistan Liberation Force (now deceased), Jasvir Singh, and their associates.
To aid their investigations, an NIA team visited the United Kingdom and used crowdsourced information to identify the attackers.
The sharing of NIA inputs with the FBI signifies the collaborative efforts between the two investigative agencies in bringing the culprits responsible for attacking the Indian Consulate in San Francisco to justice. As the FBI continues its aggressive probe, the NIA’s findings are expected to play a crucial role in expediting the prosecution process.
