In response to new pro-Khalistan demonstrations at the Indian Mission in London, the British Foreign Secretary requested a security review.
In light of recent protests by Amritpal Singh’s supporters, the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom stated that the Metropolitan Police is reviewing security at the Indian High Commission to ensure the safety of its staff.
James Cleverly, the foreign secretary of the United Kingdom, responded on Wednesday to the demonstrations held by Khalistan supporters, who descended upon the Indian High Commission in London waving Khalistan flags and chanting slogans amid a heightened security presence and barricades. Reportedly, they threw objects and chanted slogans despite the tight security and barricades. On the roof of its building, the Indian High Commission unfurled a humongous tricolour. This appeared to infuriate the protesters, who then threw coloured flares and water bottles at the mission building, at police officers, and at the media covering the protest.
Prior to this, similar scenes occurred in San Francisco, where protesters carrying Khalistan flags gathered outside the Indian Consulate. The road was heavily blocked by barricades, and uniformed police officers were present at the scene.
The Indian community held a large rally in front of the Indian High Commission in London against Khalistanis and in support of India’s unity, as seen in a video shared online. On Tuesday, members of the Sikh community in Bhopal and Indore took to the streets to protest the vandalism committed by pro-Khalistan sympathisers outside India’s diplomatic facilities in London and San Francisco.
Manhunt For Khalistan Sympathizer Amritpal Singh:
Amritpal Singh, a Khalistani sympathiser who has evaded capture, is the subject of an ongoing manhunt. Amritpal was appointed leader of ‘Waris Punjab De’ last year, an organisation founded by actor and activist Deep Sidhu, who was killed in a road accident in February 2022.
A senior police officer stated that a FIR was filed against the radical preacher Amritpal Singh and some of his associates on Sunday for possession of illegal weapons.
A second case was filed against Singh for extortion and rioting after a complaint from the ‘Granthi’ of a gurdwara in Jalandhar, where the pro-Khalistan preacher changed his clothes and fled on a motorcycle to avoid the police crackdown on his organisation.
Eight arrested Amritpal Singh aides will be presented to the Baba Bakala court in Amritsar, Punjab. Four of these were remanded for four days, which concludes today; the remaining four were arrested later and remanded for three days.
In retaliation for the pro-Khalistan demonstration, a long Tiranga was unfurled from the rooftop to accompany the multiple tricolours decorating the façade of India House in London.
James Cleverly stated that the United Kingdom is collaborating with the Metropolitan Police to review security at the Indian High Commission and will implement the necessary changes to ensure the safety of its personnel. He stated that they will always take the security of the High Commission and all foreign missions in the United Kingdom extremely seriously, as well as prevent and respond vigorously to incidents like this.
James Cleverly also emphasised that the strong personal ties between the two nations are the driving force behind their thriving relations. This bilateral relationship is guided by the 2030 Roadmap, which illustrates what can be accomplished through collaboration, including the creation of new markets and jobs for the two countries and assistance in addressing shared challenges.
