India appeals for public help to identify London mission attack suspects

INDIA has released five videos and sought help from the general public in identifying suspects who attempted to vandalise the Indian mission in London in March this year.

The nearly two-hour-long footage from CCTVs was posted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on its website and the link shared on its official Twitter handle. It urged people to provide any information regarding the persons seen in the videos to the agency.

It said the information would be kept secret.

The agency also provided a WhatsApp number +917290009373 for conveying information.

This comes after a team of the NIA visited London to get details of the case besides interacting with officials of Scotland Yard, people familiar with the developments said.

The agency took over the probe from the Special Cell of the Delhi Police which had registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act as it involves illegal activities carried out by certain people holding Indian nationality abroad.

Pro-Khalistani protesters 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.

The tricolour flying atop the Indian high commission was grabbed at by a group of protesters waving separatist Khalistani flags and chanting pro-Khalistani slogans, leading to an arrest.

The incident took place a day after Punjab Police launched a crackdown against radical preacher Amritpal Singh in Punjab.

The Metropolitan Police said that two members of security staff sustained minor injuries which did not require hospital treatment.

India had summoned the British deputy high commissioner based in New Delhi and demanded an explanation for the complete "absence of security".

In a strongly-worded statement, the Ministry of External Affairs had said India found "unacceptable" the indifference of the UK government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel.

Earlier, India’s home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla had flagged the issue with a UK delegation led by Permanent Secretary, Home Office, Sir Matthew Rycroft.

He had "specifically" conveyed New Delhi's concerns on the misuse of the UK's asylum status by pro-Khalistani elements to abet terrorist activities and requested better cooperation, increased monitoring of extremists and proactive action.

India's concerns over the breach of security at the Indian High Commission were also emphasised in that meeting.
(PTI)