Ground Reports
Pro-Khalistan Protester In America Hits Indian Journalist With Stick, Act Caught On Camera
Still from the video of the attack.
An Indian journalist based in the United States was physically attacked by a pro-Khalistan demonstrator in Washington DC yesterday (25 March).
A video of the incident was captured on camera, and has been shared by several news publications.
The journalist, Lalit K Jha, is associated with news agency Press Trust of India.
The journalist posted an update in the matter on his Twitter account, thanking the US Secret Service. He said he had been hit on his ear.
Jha posted, “Thank you @SecretService 4 [for] my protection 2day [today] 4 [for] helping do my job, otherwise I would have been writing this from hospital. The gentleman below hit my left ear with these 2 sticks & earlier I had to call 9/11 & rushed 2 police van 4 [for] safety fearing physical assault.”
Another demonstrator accompanying him hurls abuses at him and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi before he walks away, deliberately hitting the journalist with the stick of the flag he is holding in his hand.
After the video of the attack was circulated on social media platforms, the Indian Embassy in Washington DC released a statement on its website, condemning it.
See the note below, which reads, “We have seen disturbing visuals of a senior Indian journalist from Press Trust of India being abused, threatened and assaulted physically while covering so-called ‘Khalistan protest’ in Washington DC. We understand that the journalist was first verbally intimidated, then physically assaulted, and fearing for his personal safety and well-being, had to call in law enforcement agencies, who responded promptly.”
