NIA Dispatches Team to London for Probing Vandalism at Indian High Commission by Khalistan Supporters

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has dispatched a team of officials to the United Kingdom to probe the incident of vandalism at the Indian High Commission in London during a protest staged by pro-Khalistan activists.

This marks the first time that NIA investigators will be conducting an investigation on British soil. The move comes after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) handed over the case to the NIA in April, following discussions with UK representatives.

The NIA team, consisting of five members, departed for London on Monday. They have also brought along a list of individuals with suspected links to the Khalistani movement in the city. The team plans to share this information with the relevant authorities in the UK, enhancing collaboration in the investigation.

On March 19, a group of protesters brandishing separatist Khalistani flags attempted to bring down the tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission in London. Videos of the incident circulated widely, depicting protesters calling for the release of Amritpal Singh, a radical Sikh preacher and sympathizer of the Khalistan cause. One protester even climbed a balcony and removed the national flag from a pole in front of the mission. Prompt intervention by British police prevented further escalation and secured the entrance of the Indian high commission.

The decision to assign the investigation to the NIA stems from the amendment made to the NIA Act in August 2019. This amendment expanded the agency’s jurisdiction, empowering it to investigate not only cyber crimes and human trafficking but also acts of terrorism against Indians and Indian interests abroad.

The NIA’s proactive step to send a team to London reflects the seriousness with which the Indian government views the incident of vandalism at its High Commission. Through this collaborative investigation, authorities aim to ascertain the extent of Khalistani links and hold those responsible for the act of vandalism accountable. By leveraging international cooperation and strengthening the NIA’s capabilities, India seeks to address threats to its diplomatic missions and safeguard its national interests abroad.