LONDON (AP) – Home windows at India´s Excessive Fee in London had been smashed and two safety guards had been barely injured throughout an indication by Sikh protesters, police stated Monday.
London´s Metropolitan Police pressure stated a person was arrested on suspicion of violent dysfunction exterior the diplomatic mission on Sunday afternoon.
Footage posted on social media confirmed a person detach the Indian flag from a balcony of the constructing whereas a crowd of individuals beneath waving shiny yellow “Khalistan” banners appeared to encourage him.
They’re believed to be supporters of a Sikh separatist motion searching for to create a brand new homeland or breakaway state.
Police stated officers had been known as however protesters had largely dispersed by the point they arrived.
“An investigation was launched, and one male was arrested nearby a short time later on suspicion of violent disorder. Inquiries continue,” the pressure stated.
The Indian authorities stated it had summoned British Deputy Excessive Commissioner Christina Scott in New Delhi to demand a proof.
“India finds unacceptable the indifference of the U.K. government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the U.K.,” the Indian authorities stated in an announcement.
The incident in London got here a day after police in India´s Punjab state launched a manhunt to seize Amritpal Singh, a separatist chief who helps the Khalistan motion for a separate Sikh homeland. His supporters staged protests within the majority Sikh state over the weekend and 112 had been arrested, the Press Belief of India information company reported.
On Monday, Punjab remained on excessive alert as police resumed their seek for Singh, whom they accuse of inciting communal tensions.
The Khalistan motion is banned in India, the place officers see it and affiliated teams as a nationwide safety risk. However the motion nonetheless has some assist within the state, in addition to past, in nations like Canada and the UK that are residence to a large Sikh diaspora.
On Monday, no less than 200 Sikh protesters affiliated with India´s ruling Bharatiya Janata Occasion held demonstrations exterior the British Excessive Fee in New Delhi over the incident in London. The protesters, who stated they had been additionally demonstrating in opposition to the insult to the Indian flag, tried to march contained in the British embassy however had been stopped by police.
“Some people in the cover of Sikhism are trying to create an impression that we support Khalistan. We are against Khalistan. We don´t want Khalistan,” stated Arvinderpal Singh, a protester.
U.Okay. International Workplace Minister Tariq Ahmad stated he was “appalled” by the violence in London.
“This is a completely unacceptable action against the integrity of the Mission and its staff,” he wrote on Twitter. “The U.K. government will always take the security of the Indian High Commission seriously.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned “the violent disorder and vandalism.”
“There is no place in our city for this kind of behavior,” he stated.
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