National News

NIA to Probe Attacks on Indian Missions in Us & Canada

A grenade was thrown at Indian High Commission in Canada; FIR invokes Unlawful Activities Act and Explosives Act.

Sentinel Digital Desk

New Delhi: India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) is expanding its probe to include the attacks on Indian diplomatic missions in Canada and the United States, following its ongoing investigation into the attack on the Indian High Commission in London. Under the strict anti-terror statute known as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Special Cell of the Delhi Police has filed First Information Reports (FIR) in two different cases pertaining to assaults. The Home Ministry will shortly transfer these cases to the NIA.

The attacks on the Indian diplomatic missions in Canada and the US occurred in March 2023 and were carried out by supporters of the Khalistan movement. The incidents took place while the police were searching for Amritpal Singh, a separatist Sikh preacher who has since been arrested.

In Canada, a grenade was thrown during a protest at the High Commission of India, resulting in the invocation of provisions under the UAPA and the Explosives Act in the FIR. Similarly, the FIR filed for the attack on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, US, also includes provisions of the UAPA.

The Indian High Commission was attacked in London, and the Indian tricolour flag was insulted during the incident, according to the NIA, which is already looking into it. An inquiry has been launched by the agency, which has sent agents to London. In connection with the London incident, the NIA has released photographs of 45 suspected attackers and sought the public's assistance in identifying them.

Additionally, the NIA recently posted nearly two hours of CCTV footage from the protests in London on its website and shared the link on its official Twitter handle to gather more information.

The expansion of the NIA's investigation to include the attacks on Indian diplomatic missions in Canada and the US underscores the seriousness with which the Indian government is addressing these incidents. By invoking stringent anti-terror laws such as the UAPA, the authorities are taking decisive action to combat such acts of violence and ensure the safety and security of Indian diplomatic personnel and missions abroad. The NIA's efforts, coupled with public cooperation, are aimed at identifying and apprehending the individuals responsible for these attacks, thereby bringing them to justice.

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