Diaspora (Commonwealth Union) _ A man has been arrested by Scotland Yard on suspicion of “violent disorder” related to an attack on the Indian High Commission in London in March this year. The arrest took place during a protest outside India House on Monday and is connected to a demonstration on March 19, during which pro-Khalistan extremists tried to pull down the Indian national flag and threw objects at the building. The suspect, not yet named, has been released on bail pending further investigations. This arrest comes after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) released photographs of several suspects believed to be involved in the attack.
The incident on March 19 saw extremists scaling the building and causing damage, leading to injuries to at least one official. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned the senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi at the time to express India’s strong protest against the actions of separatist and extremist elements. In June, the NIA took over the probe and released images of suspects connected to the violent protest after discussions between Home Ministry officials and UK representatives.
This recent arrest aligns with ongoing efforts to bring those responsible for the attack to justice. The suspect’s identity will be disclosed once charged. The incident further strained diplomatic relations, and the MEA had denounced the actions as disgraceful. The Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, faced a separate incident in Glasgow last week when pro-Khalistan extremists blocked him from entering a gurdwara. However, Police Scotland found “no criminality” related to this incident.
While efforts are underway to address the security concerns surrounding diplomatic visits and prevent future incidents, the arrest marks a step forward in holding individuals accountable for the attack on the Indian High Commission. The investigation continues, with a focus on identifying and charging all those involved in the violent protest.
