UK's "Indifference Unacceptable"Says India On Protests At Embassy In London

Last night, as supporters of Khalistan protested outside the Indian High Commission in London over the police crackdown on separatist Amritpal Singh, the foreign ministry summoned the senior most British diplomat in New Delhi.

The ministry issued a formal statement in which it requested an explanation for the "lack of protection" at the high commission's facilities and criticised the UK government for its "indifference" towards Indian diplomats and staff.

The protests over the crackdown got underway yesterday evening. Social media users uploaded cellphone videos of protesters scaling the structure and removing the Indian flag. Pro-Khalistan organisations held what they referred to as a vote on Khalistan in Brisbane, Australia.

"An explanation was demanded for the complete absence of the British security that allowed these elements to enter the High Commission premises. She was reminded in this regard of the basic obligations of the UK Government under the Vienna Convention," foreign ministry in its statement said.

The ministry also mentioned it finds "unacceptable" the "indifference of the UK Government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel".

"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 read.

British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis also tweeted:

112 Amritpal Singh followers were arrested over the weekend. Amritpal Singh is escaping arrest. In order to secure the release of one of them, they used weapons including swords and pistols to break into a police station. The fight injured six police officers.

Since then, 78 of Amritpal Singh's supporters have been arrested, many of them following a risky car chase. Daljeet Singh Kalsi, a trusted assistant who manages his funds, was detained this morning in Gurgaon, Haryana.

34 arrests were made today, according to a tweet from the Punjab police detailing the crackdown, and the state is currently experiencing tranquilly.

"Punjab Police is acting within the law. #AmritpalSingh is still absconding and not yet arrested. Don't believe the rumours and false news. Request all citizens to maintain peace & harmony & not panic," read another tweet.

Amritpal Singh, according to Punjab police officials, has been keeping in touch with terrorist organisations stationed abroad as well as Pakistan's ISI intelligence agency.

Also Read: 10% raise in India’s power consumption; surpasses previous year’s energy supply

Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER