Protest by Sikh groups: Security beefed up around Indian mission in London

There is a heightened security presence and barricades have been erected outside the Indian high commission here on Wednesday due to a planned demonstration called by some British Sikh groups.

London

Indian Sikhs protesting against the pulling down of Indian flag from the Indian High Commission building in London gather with Indian flags outside the British High Commission in New Delhi. (AP photo)

There is a heightened security presence and barricades have been erected outside the Indian high commission here on Wednesday due to a planned demonstration called by some British Sikh groups.

Banners for a so-called “National Protest”, organised by groups such as the Federation of Sikh Organisations (FSO) and Sikh Youth Jathebandia, have been circulating on social media before a protest on Sunday, which ended in violent disorder at the India House.

The Indian government registered a strong protest over the lack of security measures at its diplomatic mission, which ended in Khalistan flag-waving protesters smashing windows of the mission and attempting to pull down the Tricolour.

Since the weekend, several uniformed officers have been patrolling the area in Aldwych and Metropolitan Police vans have been stationed at India Place.

Wednesday’s planned demonstration claims to be “in response to discriminatory actions of the Indian Police in Punjab”.

The Indian high commission in London has been working to counter disinformation circulating around developments in Punjab, related to enforcement action against the separatist group ‘Waris Punjab De’.

“The situation in your ancestral homeland is not what is being reported. The elected chief minister of the state and the local police authorities have put out detailed information, including interviews on television, please watch these. Do not believe the small handful of people putting out fiction and disinformation,” he said.