Khalistani elements attempt to pull down Indian flag in London; India summons top UK official

India on Sunday summoned the senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi after some pro-Khalistani elements attempted to pull down the Indian flag at the Indian High Commission in London.

The tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission in London was grabbed at by a group of protesters waving separatist Khalistani flags and chanting pro-Khalistani slogans on Sunday evening.

"The senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi was summoned late evening today to convey India's strong protest at the actions taken by separatist and extremist elements against the Indian High Commission in London earlier in the day," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

The Indian government has demanded an explanation for the complete absence of the British security that allowed "these elements to enter the High Commission premises. The top diplomat was reminded of the basic obligations of the UK Government under the Vienna Convention.

A video shared by news agency ANI shows Khalistani elements attempting to pull down the Indian flag but the flag was rescued by Indian security personnel at the High Commission of India. The protester was seen waving a Khalistani flag hanging off its ledge.

#WATCH | United Kingdom: Khalistani elements attempt to pull down the Indian flag but the flag was rescued by Indian security personnel at the High Commission of India, London.

(Source: MATV, London)

(Note: Abusive language at the end) pic.twitter.com/QP30v6q2G0

— ANI (@ANI) March 19, 2023

"India finds unacceptable the indifference of the UK Government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK," the statement added.

It is expected that the UK Government would take immediate steps to identify, arrest and prosecute each one of those involved in today's incident, and put in place stringent measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, the statement from the foreign ministry added.

In a tweet, High Commissioner Ellis said, "I condemn the disgraceful acts today against the people and premises of the @HCI_London - totally unacceptable."

Scotland Yard said it was "aware" of an incident in the area but is yet to issue an official statement.

It comes a day after a manhunt was launched a massive crackdown on self-styled radical preacher Amritpal Singh and arrested 78 members of the 'Waris Punjab De', headed by him. However, the Khalistani supporter is on the run.

According to experts and officials monitoring the situation in Punjab, Pakistan, which is going through its worst economic phase and lost all the wars fought against India, is trying its best to divert attention of its people by planting stooges like Amritpal Singh inside India. During the ongoing investigation, several arms and ammunition meant for the so-called Anandpur Khalsa Front (AKF), a creation of Amritpal Singh, were seized.

Also, police confiscated uniforms and jackets, officials said, adding that the weapons and ammunition seized from the radical Sikh preacher's car bore "AKF" marking on it. The officials said weapons were illegally being stockpiled in several de-addiction centres run by the 'Waris Panjab De' and a gurdwara in Amritsar. The youths who were admitted in the de-addiction centres used to be indoctrinated and pushed towards the "gun culture".

They were being brainwashed to choose the path of slain terrorist Dilawar Singh, who acted as a human bomb and killed former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, the officials said. The radical preacher used to attend "shaheedi samagam" (memorial events) of slain terrorists where he termed them so-called "martyrs of the Panth" and glorified the use of weapons.

Dubai-returned Amritpal was last year anointed the head of 'Waris Punjab De', which was founded by actor and activist Deep Sidhu who died in a road accident in February last year.

Last month, Amritpal and his supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and barged into Ajnala police station on the outskirts of Amritsar city, and clashed with police for the release of one of his aides. Six policemen were injured in the incident. Punjab Police filed an FIR on February 23 in connection with the incident.

With inputs from PTI