NIA has taken over investigation into attacks on Indian missions in US and Canada by Khalistan supporters in March
Published Date – 08:50 PM, Saturday – 6/17/23
New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the investigation into attacks on Indian missions in the US and Canada by Khalistan supporters in March, a police source said on Saturday.
Previously, the investigation into violent protests and attempted vandalism at the Indian High Commission in London in March this year was also referred to the agency.
A special unit of the Delhi Police has registered an FIR under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the March attack, sources said.
The investigation has now been handed over to the NIA, they added.
A group of pro-Khalistan protesters attacked and vandalized the Indian consulate in San Francisco. Raising slogans, the protesters broke through a makeshift security barrier set up by city police and raised two so-called Khalistani flags inside the consulate. The flags were quickly removed by two consulate personnel.
India has lodged a strong protest with the US Chargé d’affaires in Delhi.
The government also summoned the Canadian High Commissioner, expressing its strong concern that the Indian diplomatic mission in Canada was being targeted.
On June 12, the NIA released CCTV footage of the attack on the Indian mission in London and sought the public’s help in identifying the culprits.
On March 19, pro-Khalistani protesters attempted to vandalize the Indian High Commission in London and pulled down the flag, while protesting outside the High Commission building.
This comes a day after Punjab police launched a crackdown on Punjabi radical preacher Amritpal Singh.
Officials at the mission had said the “attempted” attack was thwarted and the tricolor was now flying “bigger”.
The Metropolitan Police said two security guards suffered minor injuries and did not require hospital treatment.
India summoned the UK’s deputy high commissioner in New Delhi, demanding an explanation for the complete “lack of security”.
India’s foreign ministry said in a strongly worded statement that India considered the British government’s indifference to the safety of Indian diplomatic sites and personnel to be “unacceptable”.
