NIA to probe protest, vandalism attempt at Indian High Commission in London

The National Investigation Agency NIA will probe the case of protests and attempt to vandalise the Indian High Commission in London last month officials said on TuesdayThe NIA will take over the case from 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 as it involves unlawful activities carried out by certain people holding Indian nationality abroadAccording to officials the NIA is mandated to probe any terror case that takes place in foreign land following amendments to the law governing the antiterror probe organisation in 2019ProKhalistani protestors tried to vandalise the Indian High Commission in London and pulled down the national flag while holding protests outside the High Commission complex on March 19 It happened a day after the Punjab Police launched a crackdown against radical preacher Amritpal Singh in PunjabThe CounterTerrorism and Counter Radicalisation unit of the Ministry of Home Affairs handed over the case to the NIA and the decision was taken after Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla held a meeting with representatives of the British government last weekIn the London incident the tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission was grabbed at by a group of protesters waving separatist Khalistani flags and chanting proKhalistani slogans leading to an arrestAlso Read NIA files charge sheet against two alleged IS operatives in KarnatakaOfficials from the mission said the attempted but failed attack had been foiled and that the tricolour was now flying grander The Metropolitan Police said two members of security staff sustained minor injuries which did not require hospital treatmentIndia had summoned the British deputy high commissioner based in New Delhi and demanded an explanation over the complete absence of securityIn a stronglyworded statement the Ministry of External Affairs had said India finds unacceptable the indifference of the UK government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnelUnion Home Secretary Bhalla flagged the issue with a UK delegation which was led by Permanent Secretary Home Office Sir Matthew Rycroft and specifically conveyed New Delhis concerns on the misuse of UKs asylum status by proKhalistani elements to abet terrorist activities and requested better cooperation increased monitoring of extremists and take proactive actionIndias concerns over the breach of security at the Indian High Commission were also emphasised in that meetingThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever