National News

UK Vandalism: NIA Identifies Vandals at Indian High Commission in London, Issues Notice

NIA issues a lookout notice for 45 individuals involved in London High Commission vandalism & flag disrespect in March.

Sentinel Digital Desk

NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced on Wednesday the results of its efforts to identify individuals involved in the recent attack on the Indian High Commission in the UK. The NIA issued a lookout notice and released pictures of 45 people who were responsible for vandalizing the High Commission and disrespecting the Indian National Flag in London in March.

The NIA took to Twitter and wrote, "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),"

Earlier, on Monday (June 12), the NIA released over 2 hours of CCTV footage showing the attempted vandalism at the Indian High Commission in London by anti-national elements. The agency appealed to the public to provide any information regarding the people seen in the CCTV footage in the interest of public safety.

The NIA released the CCTV footage of the Khalistani attack and provided a WhatsApp number for information on the vandals, assuring the anonymity of informants. In March, a pro-Khalistan protestor in London climbed the balcony of the Indian High Commission and pulled down the Indian flag. A video of the incident went viral on social media. In the video, the Khalistani protestor can be seen attempting to bring down the Indian flag, and another man arrives on the balcony to prevent further harm to the flag.

The Indian community in London organised a sizable demonstration on March 19 in front of the Indian High Commission to denounce the disrespect shown to the Indian flag by Khalistan supporters. They urged the British government and London Mayor Sadiq Khan to take swift action against the offenders. An unparalleled show of support from the broad Indian population living in Britain followed the destruction of the Indian flag.

Expatriates from across the UK traveled to London to express their solidarity with the Indian flag and the unity of India. The gathering strongly rejected the idea of Khalistan, emphasizing that there is no support for it. A case was registered by the Delhi Police on March 24 in connection with the protests in front of the Indian High Commission in London on March 19. The Ministry of Home Affairs instructed the Delhi Police to take appropriate legal action based on a report from the Ministry of External Affairs regarding the incident.

Following the vandalization of the Indian High Commission in the United Kingdom, the most senior UK diplomat in New Delhi was summoned to convey India's strong protest against the actions of separatists and extremist elements.

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