The National Investigation Agency (NIA), on Wednesday, announced that it is seeking the identification of individuals involved in the recent attack on the Indian High Commission in the UK. The NIA has issued a lookout notice and released pictures of 45 people who were responsible for vandalizing the High Commission and showing disrespect to the Indian National Flag in London back in March.
"REQUEST FOR IDENTIFICATION/INFORMATION On 19.03.23 these persons were involved in an attack on the High Commission of India, London. They caused grievous injury and disrespected the Indian National Flag If anyone has any information about them, please Whatsapp/DM @+917290009373 (sic)," the NIA wrote on Twitter.
NIA released CCTV footage of Khalistani attack
Earlier on Monday (June 12), NIA released over 2 hours of CCTV footage of the attempted vandalisation of the Indian High Commission in London, United Kingdom by anti-national elements. NIA has appealed to the public to provide information regarding the people seen in the CCTV footage to the agency in the public interest.
The NIA has released CCTV footage of the Khalistani attack, given a WhatsApp number as well seeking information on the vandalisers, while promising to keep the identity of the informant secret. Notably, a pro-Khalistan protestor in London climbed the High Commission of India's balcony and pulled down the Indian flag on March 19. A video of the same incident went viral on social media. In the then-viral video, the Khalistani protestor can be seen on the balcony attempting to bring down the Indian flag. At the end of the video, another man reaches the balcony from inside to avert any more harm to the flag.
The Indian community on March 19 held a large gathering in front of the Indian High Commission in London against the "disrespectful act" of Khalistan supporters towards the Indian flag and demanded that the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan and the British government act against the perpetrators at the earliest. The desecration of the Indian Flag led to an unprecedented outpouring of support from the diverse Indian community settled here in Britain.
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Solidarity with the Indian Flag
Expats from all across the UK travelled to London to express their solidarity with the Indian Flag and with the unity of India. The gathering resoundingly debunked the idea of Khalistan, saying there are no takers for it. A case was registered by the Delhi Police on March 24 in connection with protests in front of the Indian High Commission in London on March 19. "On receipt of a report from the Ministry of External Affairs on the incident at Indian High Commission, London on March 19, 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs asked Delhi Police to take appropriate legal action," said an official statement.
It should be mentioned here that the senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi was summoned after the Indian High Commission in the United Kingdom was vandalised, to convey India's strong protest at the actions taken by separatist and extremist elements.
(With ANI inputs)
