NIA Nabs Key Accused In Attack On Indian High Commission In UK

The investigations carried out by NIA in the case so far have revealed that the incidents in London were part of a larger conspiracy.

The investigations carried out by NIA in the case so far have revealed that the incidents in London were part of a larger conspiracy.

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In a big development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested a key accused in a case related to the attack on the Indian High Commission in London in March last year, as reported by news agency PTI. The accused identified as Inderpal Singh Gaba, a resident of Hounslow in the UK, has been arrested for carrying out unlawful activities during protests that took place on March 22, 2023, in London, the probe agency said in a statement.

The investigations carried out by the probe agency in the case so far have revealed that the incidents in London on March 19 and 22 last year were part of a larger conspiracy to unleash vicious attacks on the Indian missions and its officials.

According to NIA, the attacks in London in March 2023 were found to be in retaliation to the action taken by the Punjab Police against pro-Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh on March 18, 2023. Further investigations in the case are underway. 

The NIA took over the case from the special cell of the Delhi Police which had registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act as it involves unlawful activities carried out by certain people holding Indian nationality abroad.

The probe agency was mandated to probe any terror case that takes place in foreign land following amendments to the law governing the anti-terror probe organisation in 2019, news agency PTI had reported officials as informing. The Counter-Terrorism and Counter Radicalisation unit of the Ministry of Home Affairs handed over the case to the NIA and the decision was taken after Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla held a meeting with representatives of the British government.

In the London incident, the tricolour flying atop the Indian high commission was grabbed at by a group of protesters waving separatist Khalistani flags and chanting pro-Khalistani slogans, leading to an arrest. It happened a day after the Punjab Police launched a crackdown against radical preacher Amritpal Singh in Punjab.