Khalistani activists allegedly tried to set the Indian consulate in San Francisco on fire on Sunday, drawing quick condemnation from the US state department.

The US action came at a time neighbouring Canada has sought to assure India that Ottawa is committed to its obligations under the Vienna Conventions regarding the safety of diplomats after some of them posted at India’s missions in the Canadian capital and Vancouver were threatened by Sikh separatist groups.

According to the news agency PTI, the video that has emerged of the arson in San Francisco was posted by Khalistan supporters themselves. Wire agency ANI reported that the blaze was put out quickly by the local fire department and no one sustained injuries. There was no major damage.

India summoned the Canadian high commissioner in New Delhi on Tuesday over Khalistani separatists threatening the safety of Indian diplomats based in Canada by putting their photographs in posters brought out for the proposed “Khalistan Freedom Rally” on July 8 and identifying them as “Faces of Shaheed Nijjar’s Killers”.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force and one of India’s most-wanted terrorists who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Canada in June.

India is also understood to have raised the issue of arson at the San Francisco consulate with the US government.

Prior to that, US state department spokesman Matthew Miller had tweeted: “The US strongly condemns the reported vandalism and attempted arson against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco.... Vandalism or violence against diplomatic facilities or foreign diplomats in the US is a criminal offence.”

While there was no official word from the external affairs ministry, India is said to have asked Canada to ensure the security of the Indian diplomatic premises, particularly those in Ottawa and Vancouver, on July 8 when Khalistani activists have called for rallies outside the missions.