A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team is travelling to the United Kingdom (UK) to probe into the violent demonstration and attempt to vandalise the Indian High Commission in London by pro-Khalistani elements that occurred on March 19, 2023.
The team will meet Scotland Yard and the Metropolitan Police in London to gather details about the suspects and evidence on the attack, the people added, who wished to remain anonymous.
In April 2023, the NIA was investigating a large conspiracy by Pakistan-backed UK Pro-Khalistani leaders such as Avtar Singh Khanda, who is also the alleged handler of Waris Punjab De, an organisation led by Amritpal Singh for leading the protestors to the Indian High Commission.
Khanda is also associated with Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and two others-Gurcharan Singh and Jasvir Singh, who are named key suspects in the FIR (First Information Report).
On March 19, 2023, the pro-Khalistani protestors pulled down the national flag and attempted to vandalise the Indian High Commission in London. This was an incident in which the British Police did not react on time.
The agency took over the probe from the Delhi Police after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA-India) met with the UK Home representatives in April 2023.
On April 19, 2023, the NIA looked at Pakistan’s role in the conspiracy and planned to send a team to London. Pakistan’s ISI (Inter Service Intelligence) has often figured in cases probed by the NIA linked to pro-Khalistani elements
