Vandalism attempt at Indian High Commission in London: NIA identifies 8 persons, to issue look out notice

In April, the Union Home Ministry had directed the NIA to file a fresh case in connection with the London protests after preliminary investigation pointed to a terror link involving Pakistan’s spy agency, ISI. The ministry had also directed the Delhi Police, which had registered an FIR under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), to hand over the probe to the NIA.

A source in the MHA told The Indian Express that the complainant, Kiran Kumar Vasant Bhosale, assistant personnel and welfare officer at the High Commission, has mentioned names of three persons – Avtar Singh, alias Khanda, Gurcharan Singh and Jasvir Singh, in the FIR. The officials of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) helped the investigation team of the NIA to identify more attackers, the source said.

“After a thorough investigation and questioning multiple persons in London, the NIA finally managed to identify eight alleged attackers. After identifying them, they are coordinating with the concerned agencies to issue an LoC against them,” the source said.

Another source in the intelligence agency said they have provided a list of 27 people to the NIA and now they are identifying them after gathering evidence against them.

On Monday, the NIA released five videos of the incident, asking the general public to help identify the individuals who attempted to vandalise the High Commission. Several people have called the NIA to give details of the attackers.

The agency, during its investigation, had questioned Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh and his nine associates in Assam’s Dibrugarh jail in connection with the UK incident. The investigation team questioned Amritpal and his associates after they came to know that they were in constant touch with Avtar Singh Khanda, one of the leaders of the protesters, who instigated them by shouting anti-India and pro-Khalistan slogans. “After questioning them, the investigation team went to London. There, they reportedly met the officials concerned and were assured of appropriate action, but only after all the legal proceedings. During their visit, the investigation team collected the CCTV footage of the incident and recorded the statement of the complainant as well as other eyewitnesses,” the source said.

Pro-Khalistani 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.