The National Investigation Agency (NIA) released five videos seeking help from the public to identify individuals involved in violent protests in the UK following a crackdown on radical preacher Amritpal Singh.
Protests had broken out in the UK, the US, Canada, and Australia following the police action against the Khalistan leader.
India's National investigation Agency (NIA) releases over 2 hour long CCTV footage of the attempted vandalization of the Indian High commission in the UK by Khalistanis. pic.twitter.com/h116JRMOFz
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) June 12, 2023
NIA Releases Videos
The UK incident was previously being probed by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police, which had registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. Later, the NIA took over the case. NIA officials had visited the UK in connection with the matter. They also interacted with the officials of Scotland Yard during their visit.
The agency has now released CCTV footage related to the incident on its official website and shared the link on Twitter. The agency urged people to provide any information regarding the individuals seen in the videos.
“All the members of the public are requested to provide any information regarding the persons seen in the footage to the NIA in public interest,” the statement said. Providing the WhatsApp number +91 7290009373 to share information, the agency said the informants’ information would be kept private.
CCTV footage of the 19th March attack by anti-national elements on the High Commission of India in London, UK as released by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2023
NIA has appealed to the public to provide information regarding the people seen in the CCTV footage. pic.twitter.com/cU3PVoHwCb
The Incident
In the incident that took place in March, a group of protestors waving separatist Khalistani flags and chanting pro-Khalistani slogans grabbed the tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission.
In response to the protests, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) lodged a complaint and summoned the senior-most diplomat in the UK’s embassy in New Delhi. India demanded an explanation for the security lapse that allowed such activity to occur and said it violated London’s obligations under the Vienna Convention.
While India said that it found the “indifference” of the UK government “unacceptable,” the UK Government said it will always take the security of the Indian High Commission seriously. A similar incident also took place in San Francisco, where Khalistan supporters attacked the Indian Consulate in San Francisco.
Law enforcement agencies organised violent protests by Khalistan supporters in London and San Francisco over the crackdown against pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh and his aides in Punjab. Protests also took place in Canada and Australia over the action.
The Indian authorities finally arrested the Waris Punjab De chief on 23 April, thus concluding the manhunt that lasted over a month.