London, United Kingdom – The National Investigation Agency (NIA) made a significant breakthrough by arresting Inderpal Singh Gaba, a key accused in the 2023 case involving the violent attack on the Indian High Commission in London and unlawful activities during subsequent protests. Gaba, a resident of Hounslow, UK, was apprehended for his involvement in unlawful activities during protests that occurred on March 22, 2023, according to a statement released by the agency.
NIA’s investigations have unveiled that the events in London on March 19 and 22 of the previous year were part of a larger conspiracy to carry out vicious attacks on Indian missions and officials. The attacks in London were reportedly in retaliation to the Punjab Police’s actions against pro-Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh on March 18, 2023. The agency continues to conduct further investigations into the case.
The incident at the Indian High Commission in London involved protesters waving Khalistani flags and chanting pro-Khalistani slogans, with one protester climbing onto a balcony to pull down the Indian flag from its pole. The protestors were calling for the release of Amritpal Singh, a radical Sikh preacher and Khalistan sympathizer. British police intervened to prevent the protestors from approaching the entrance of the High Commission.
Following a meeting with UK representatives in April 2023, the Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalization division of India’s Ministry of Home Affairs handed over the case to NIA. This decision came after the ministry’s amendment of the NIA Act in August 2019, granting the agency authority to investigate terror activities against Indians and Indian interests abroad, as well as cybercrimes and human trafficking.
The NIA took over the case from the Delhi Police, which had registered an FIR under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and is currently investigating the matter. The agency launched a probe based on orders from the Ministry of Home Affairs, focusing on the unlawful actions surrounding the attack on the Indian High Commission in London in 2023. Further updates on the investigation are awaited as NIA continues to delve into the larger conspiracy behind the violent incident.