California police charge 2 in attack on DSGMC President Manjit Singh GK

Two pro-Khalistan referendum supporters have been charged by law enforcement officials in California for the attack on Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee President Manjit Singh GK last week.

Singh was visiting the main Gurudwara in Yuba City, California on August 25 when a group of 30-35 people supporting the Khalistan 2020 referendum attacked him.

A statement from Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) said California's Sutter County Sheriff's office has charged Sukhwinder Singh and Gurdeep Singh, belonging to the pro-Khalistan Referendum 2020 campaign, for the attack.

The two have been charged with "battery", or willful and unlawful use of force or violence on another person, under section 242 of California's Penal Code and a court date for October 15 has been set.

The charge carries a USD 2,000 fine or six months in jail.

SFJ legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said the group will defend the charges against the two persons since they were only protesting the DSGMC chief's presence outside Yuba City Gurdwara. He alleged that it was one of Singh's associates who had instigated violence against the referendum campaigners exercising their right of protest protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

Pannun said the SFJ has also filed a complaint against Singh with the US Department of Justice for violations of Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) laws. He said SFJ filed the complaint against Singh for holding, attending and addressing political gatherings in the US in violations of FARA laws.