2023 Sikh protests

The 2023 Sikh protests were a series of rallies from February to October 2023. They began following a registration of a first information report (FIR) in the Ajnala police station against Khalistan separatist leader Amritpal Singh and his aides for purported kidnapping and theft. Singh's close associate Lovepreet Toofan Singh was detained, prompting Amritpal Singh to issue an "ultimatum" to Punjab Police to revoke the case, and, upon their unresponsiveness, his supporters thereafter started mass protests and stormed the police complex with weapons. Although Lovepreet Toofan Singh was subsequently released, Punjab Police launched a crackdown on Amritpal Singh for obstruction of law enforcement. This resulted in a series of demonstrations led by Sikhs in India, as well as diasporic Sikhs.

The second phase of the protests began in June 2023, following the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another Khalistani separatist, in Canada. In July, Khalistani supporters set the Indian consulate in San Francisco on fire, which was later suppressed by the San Francisco Fire Department. In September 2023, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau declared India to be involved in the killing of Nijjar, which was denied by the Indian government. These issues led to the ongoing Canada–India diplomatic row. Sikhs activists in the United States led demonstrated in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento and New York City.