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Heavy security keeps Khalistani protesters away from Indian High Commission in London after Sunday's breach

by Trans World Features | @twfindia 22 Mar 2023, 10:19 am

London : Heavy security arrangements kept Pro-Khalistan protesters behind barricades outside the Indian High Commission in London on Wednesday evening following the unprecedented vandalism of Sunday, when the Indian flag was pulled down and the windows of the building were broken.

Following the vandalism, India registered a strong protest and thereafter, the London Metropolitan Police have taken no chances, parking more than 20 buses near the India House and deploying mounted troops to patrol the streets.

Visuals from the spot showed a group of protesters gathered behind the barricades waving yellow Khalistan flags and raising slogans on the other side of the road.

However, thanks to the police barricades, the giant Indian flag that draped the building remained in place and work inside the Commission carried on uninterrupted.

The deployment of extra security in London came shortly after the Delhi Police removed traffic barricades outside the British High Commission, in a move seen by some as a demonstration of India's displeasure with the breach of security in London.

The police have explained that they removed the barricades as the same were "creating hurdles" for commuters.

On Sunday evening, India summoned a senior British diplomat in Delhi to register its strong protest over the "complete absence of British security" when the crowd targeted the Indian High Commission building in London, who were protesting against the crackdown on Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh and his group in Punjab. 

"An explanation was demanded the complete absence of the British security that allowed these elements to enter the High Commission premises," the foreign ministry had said.

The Indian foreign ministry also said that the UK Government is expected to "take immediate steps to identify, arrest and prosecute each one of those involved in the incident," and put in place stringent measures to prevent a recurrence.

Even as British officials condemned the vandalism, calling it "disgraceful" and "completely unacceptable", Scotland Yard had arrested only one person in connection with the incident.

The person is now out on bail.

On Wednesday, another round of protest was held by pro-Khalistan groups who circulated invitations on WhatsApp.