India to raise with UK issue of pro-Pakistani protests outside high commission

BRITISH Pakistani groups-led protests turned violent outside the Indian high commission in London on Tuesday (3) resulting in the arrest of two people.

The Indian authorities will take up with the UK the matter of damage inflicted to the Indian high commission in London during the protests yesterday, media has quoted sources familiar with the matter on Wednesday (4).

India’s concerns will also be communicated to the British officials when the latest development is discussed through diplomatic channels, reports added.

Further, what’s worrying India is the manner in which the continuing protests have been played down by the UK authorities.

Hundreds of protesters assembled outside the Indian high commission yesterday to protest against ending the special status for Jammu and Kashmir.

Commenting on the incident, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said:"Two people were arrested for criminal damage and remain in custody."

The violent protests took place after the Indian government revoked Jammu and Kashmir's decades-old special status under Article 370 and split the region into two union territories.

This was the second violent protest in a time span of 30 days following the fierce demonstrations outside the Indian high commission on August 15.

Pro-Pakistani and Khalistani protesters threw stones and eggs at Indians gathered outside the high commission building during India’s independence day celebrations in the UK.

The UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab has condemned the violence yesterday, calling it "deplorable".

Raab told the British parliament: "It is absolutely right that any violence is deplorable. It shouldn't be conducted in this country, or anywhere else for that matter, at any individual communities.

“What we now need to do is try and reduce those tensions, but also, on a positive side, build up confidence-building measures to allow proper dialogue between the communities in Kashmir and between India and Pakistan."

"Another violent protest outside the Indian High Commission in London today, 3 September 2019. Damage caused to the premises," Indian high ommission tweeted.

The embassy also tweeted a picture of a cracked window pane in the building.