James Cleverly, the foreign secretary of the United Kingdom, has stated that the security measure at the Indian High Commission in London will be re-evaluated in response to incidents of violence toward the Embassy’s personnel that were deemed unacceptable. 

Following a large protest by Khalistani groups outside of India House in London’s Westminster, which occurred three days after the pro-Khalistan separatist vandalise and removed the Tricolour flag from the Indian mission, James Cleverly issued a statement regarding the need to review the security measures at the Indian High Commission in London due to unacceptable acts of violence towards its mission staffs. 

“Our office team is collaborating with the Metropolitan Police to analyse and improve the security measures at the Indian High Commission, in order to guarantee the safety of its personnel, just as we did recent protest. We consider the security of all foreign missions in the UK to be of utmost importance, and we will take necessary actions to prevent and promptly address any such incidents with robust measures,” the foreign secretary said. 

According to the foreign secretary, a police investigation is currently underway to investigate the violent acts that occurred. Additionally, he stated that UK Government is cooperating with the Indian mission and New Delhi to address the diplomatic issue that has arisen as a result of the incident. “The violence directed towards the staff at the Indian High Commission in London is unacceptable, and I have forwarded this message to High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami. The ongoing police investigation is closely monitored, and we are maintaining close communication with both Indian High Commission in London and the Indian Government in New Delhi,” Cleverly added. 

Khalistani sympathisers were protesting against the security forces for a crackdown on Amritpal Singh, the chief of Waris Punjab De. A video surfaced on social media of one of the protestors pulling down the Indian national flag and chanting the pro-Khalistnai slogans. The report indicates that the demonstrators attempt to gain entry into the premises.  After the violence at the Indian High Commission in London, the Ministry of External Affairs summoned British Deputy High Commissioner Christina Scott to their office on Sunday night and lodged a strong protest with the UK authorities. 

The Indian government expressed its condemnation of the incident and deemed the lack of concern displayed by the UK government towards the security of Indian diplomatic facilities and personnel in the UK unacceptable. Starting Wednesday, the Indian authorities initiated a process of reducing security measures outside the British High Commission and the envoy’s residence in Delhi. The additional barricades that had been put up around the UK mission situated in the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri and the residence of the British High Commissioner, Alex Ellis, were removed.