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Khalistani protesters hurl bottles, Indian mission responds with giant Tricolour
Some embassy officials, in response to the protests, stood on the terrace holding a long Tricolour.
Indian High Commission in London on Wednesday responded with unfurling of a giant Tricolour after pro-Khalistani activists hurled coloured flares and water bottles towards the mission building. Around 2,000 protesters turned up again in front of the building for a planned demonstration against the crackdown on separatist elements in Punjab, with some hurling objects chanting pro-Khalistan slogans amid a heightened security presence and barricades.
Some embassy officials, in response to the protests, stood on the terrace holding a long Tricolour, according to the video footages shared by ANI.
The protesters were barricaded across the road with uniformed officers standing guard and patrolling the area throughout, thwarting any violent disorder like Sunday afternoon when India House came under attack.
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The extra security layer in London came shortly after barricades placed outside the UK's high commission in New Delhi and the British envoys' residence in the national capital were removed. There were, however, no reports of any reduction in security personnel at the mission.
India had lodged a strong protest against the developments in London, with British deputy high commissioner Christina Scott being summoned to the external affairs ministry late on Sunday night over the “actions taken by separatist and extremist elements” against the Indian mission.
The Indian side demanded an explanation for the “complete absence of the British security” that allowed the pro-Khalistan elements to enter the mission premises, and the UK government was asked to take “immediate steps to identify, arrest and prosecute each one of those involved” in Sunday’s protest.
Since the weekend, several uniformed officers have been patrolling the area in Aldwych and Metropolitan Police vans have been stationed at India Place.
