NIA team set to go London to probe ‘attack’ on Indian mission by pro-Khalistan mob

An officer said the decision was taken after preliminary investigation pointed to a terror link involving Pakistan’s ISI. A source said, “The team (going to London) will seize CCTV footage and examine the crime scene. They will also meet senior officials to record their statement.”

In the FIR registered with Delhi Police, complainant Kiran Kumar Vasant Bhosale, assistant personnel and welfare officer at the High Commission, alleged that on March 19 afternoon, when he was at the High Commission for “routine security check”, he saw a crowd of about 50 or 60 protesters assemble in front of the building. “They were carrying yellow flags used by Khalistani separatists. I immediately informed the Diplomatic Protection Group (DPG) through an SOS call about the emerging situation,” Bhosale stated in the FIR.

“I saw one Avtar Singh, alias Khanda, and one Gurcharan Singh… (both) frequently seen near the High Commission. They were among leaders of the violent mob and were instigating the mob by shouting anti-India and pro-Khalistan slogans,” Bhosale alleged.

A video of the incident shows one protester climbing the High Commission balcony and bringing down the Tricolour.

Bhosale said one person — he identified him as Jasvir Singh, from Slough, a town near London — helped them climb the balcony where the national flag was hoisted. Bhosale said in his complaint that he “rushed towards the balcony” with fellow High Commission staffer Niraj Kumar Singh, Junior Warrant Officer (Air Wing). As they tried to stop the protester who had “dishonorably pulled down the Indian national flag” from passing it down towards the “rioters on the sidewalk, who were trying to tear the flag”, the man attacked him.

“He tried putting that (Khalistani) flag on the flag post. He was aggressive, violent and full of expletives…. He assaulted me…” Bhosale complained. According to the FIR, Bhosale and Singh received serious injuries.

“The rioters were constantly motivating the man who had reached the balcony to throw me down…. I somehow managed to snatch the Khalistani flag and threw it aside. Some protesters suddenly started hitting at the windowpanes and outer glass doors of the High Commission, including the main entrance gate, with metallic rods, thereby causing extensive damage to the High Commission’s property,” Bhosale alleged.

Bhosale stated in the FIR that after a while metropolitan police personnel arrived on the scene and handled the situation.