News Brief
Pro-Khalistan protesters (Representative Image)
During the Khalistani protest in front of the Indian High Commission in London on Monday (2 October), an Indian student, expressed his shock at witnessing the demeaning of the Indian flag.
According to The Hindu, Satyam Surana, a student at the London School of Economics, recounted his actions, stating, "When I saw the Indian flag being demeaned, I immediately went behind the police officer who had intentionally stepped on it. I picked up the flag and moved away."
During the commemoration of Gandhi Jayanti, Khalistani protestors were separated on both sides of the street near the Indian High Commission in London.
However, a group of protestors managed to breach the barricades and crossed over to the HCI side, holding an Indian flag and a bottle of what they claimed to be 'cow urine'.
The Khalistan supporters stated that their protest was in response to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Nijjar, who was designated as a terrorist in India, was killed outside a gurdwara in Surrey, Canada on 18 June.
A video of Satyam picking up the Indian flag from the ground went viral after being posted by former UK Government Advisor Colin Bloom on his X handle.
The protest by Khalistan supporters occurred shortly after an intended meeting between the Indian High Commissioner to Britain, Vikram Doraiswami, and the Gurudwara Committee in Glasgow.
The purpose of the interaction was to address community and consular matters.
After being threatened and abused by these individuals, the Indian Officials decided to leave the premises shortly after their arrival in order to prevent any potential altercation.
The incident was promptly reported to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Metropolitan Police by the Indian High Commission.
Multiple community organizations, including the organizers, have expressed their regret for the incident and have called on the authorities to take action against those responsible.