Protesters supporting the Khalistan movement demonstrated in London today, shouting slogans and throwing water bottles and ink at the police. The police kept them confined to the other side of the road, a safe distance from the Indian High Commission. The protesters were provoked by a bigger Indian flag draped over the walls of India House, in response to Sunday's vandalism when the Indian flag was pulled down and the windows of the building were broken. The London police were prepared for the protest, deploying forces in 24 buses as well as mounted police.
The protest started small but grew in numbers as the evening advanced, with around 2,000 protesters turning up by late evening. The mood turned ugly as they tried to break the barricade and targeted the police with water bottles, ink, and powdered colors. The police said they will evacuate the spot if the protest escalates any further.
In response, the police in New Delhi removed traffic barricades outside the British High Commission, which some interpreted as a demonstration of India's displeasure with the breach in London. The police explained the move as removing barricades that were "creating hurdles" for commuters. India summoned a senior British diplomat in Delhi to register its strong protest over the "complete absence of British security" as the crowd targeted the building, protesting against the crackdown on Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh and his group.
