India summons UK diplomat after violent protest at High Commission building in central London
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. India’s foreign ministry denounced the UK government in a sharp rebuke against the “complete absence of British security” around the High Commission and has demanded an explanation. “The senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi was summoned late evening today to convey India’s strong protest at the actions taken by separatist and extremist elements against the Indian High Commission in London earlier in the day,” the statement said. “India finds unacceptable the indifference of the UK government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK.” British deputy high commissioner Christina Scott was reportedly summoned by the Indian foreign minister as Alex Ellis, the high commissioner, was not in Delhi at the time. The incident occured after the Punjab police’s “mega crackdown” to arrest Amritpal Singh, a self-styled preacher and leader of a radical organisation “Waris Punjab De”, or Heirs of Punjab.