On June 7, 2026, more than 250 motorcycles thundered down the streets of Kolkata in honor of the United States’ and India’s shared commitment to security, cooperation, and freedom.
The OSAC (formerly Overseas Security Advisory Council) India-Kolkata Country Chapter co-organized the inaugural “Freedom Ride” with the Kolkata Police. The chapter relaunched earlier this year and has already grown to more than 115 security professionals from U.S. organizations operating in country.
The Kolkata Country Chapter is one of OSAC’s 150+ Country Chapters around the world. OSAC is a public-private partnership between security professionals from global U.S. organizations and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. Together with Mission India’s Regional Security Office, OSAC members share information and expertise to innovatively address regional and industry-specific challenges and manage risk. This collaborative network fosters a more secure operating environment that allows U.S. entities to prosper and thrive in India and around the world.
The Freedom 250 convoy included OSAC chapter members and representatives from private businesses, including Hyatt Regency Kolkata, PepsiCo, Harley-Davidson, and Speed Group, as well as American diplomats. Two hundred Kolkata Police supported the group, all revving up for the countdown to #Freedom250.
Beginning at the American Center Kolkata, the riders passed the iconic Victoria Memorial, wound through the heart of Kolkata, to the Kolkata Police Headquarters at Lalbazar, and back to the American Center Kolkata. Here, Diplomatic Security Service Overseas Criminal Investigator Scott Kang and Regional Security Officer Matthew Godwin joined West Bengal Cabinet Minister Dilip Ghosh and U.S. Consul General Kathy Giles-Diaz in greeting the U.S. Marine Security Guards who were guarding the diplomatic post. The riders then made their way to the site of the 2002 terrorist attack on the American Center in Kolkata where they paused for a solemn remembrance of the five Kolkata Police officers who gave their lives defending American personnel: Pijush Sarker, Ujjal Burman, Suresh Hembram, Anup Mondal, and Sheikh Ashraf Ali.
While there, India Police Service (IPS) Correctional Services Officer Zafar Ajmal Kidwai, Cabinet Minister Ghosh, and Consul General Giles-Diaz held a wreath-laying ceremony. During the ceremony, Consul General Giles-Diaz said: “Just as a motorcycle needs two wheels to move forward, the U.S.-India partnership relies on our nations working together. Our shared vision for a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific drives us forward. This vision requires resilience and vigilance, and dedicated people, like the Kolkata Police. What grew out of the 2002 attack is the network of partners who help us protect the ideas of freedom and peace every day.”
The 2002 attack is a stark reminder of the risks U.S. organizations face when operating abroad. OSAC exists to connect U.S. organizations of every kind—from academia to corporations large and small, non-profits, NGOs, and faith-based groups in every region—so they may work together to stay informed, prepared, and capable of mitigating and managing threats together.
The 2026 Freedom Ride is the first of what the U.S. Consulate General Kolkata hopes will become an annual tradition–a living reminder that the U.S.-India security partnership, sustained by shared purpose and principles, continues to move forward.
Atul Makharia, Founder of Speed Group, summed up the rally: “Freedom is not only a principle we cherish; it is a journey that brings people together. This ride symbolizes the spirit of unity, courage, and friendship, connecting riders from different backgrounds through a shared celebration of freedom.”
As the United States approaches #Freedom250, OSAC invites every U.S. organization operating abroad to join their local OSAC Country Chapter, stay engaged with the Diplomatic Security Service, and continue building the bonds that help keep the nation’s people, facilities, and operations secure while enabling economic growth, innovation, and fair business practices worldwide. This day would not have been possible without the support of private sector partners Hyatt Regency Kolkata, PepsiCo, Speed Group, Jeep, and Harley-Davidson.