Security barricades outside British High Commission & British High Commissioner’s residence removed
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Barricades in front of the British High Commission in Delhi and the residence of British High Commissioner Alex Ellis were removed on Wednesday morning after directions from Delhi Police headquarters, Delhi police sources said.
The downgrading of security, apparently a retaliatory move for the lack of security at the Indian High Commission in London comes after a group of pro-Khalistan protestors vandalised the consulate on Sunday.
The team of Delhi police along with PCR vans stationed in front of the gate of the British High Commission on Shantipath at Chanakyapuri diplomatic enclave were also removed along with special security measures such as road diverter and speed breaker apart from the cement barricades and bunkers made of sand bags.
There was no official word from the government.
The protestors chanting pro-Khalistan slogans had barged into the Indian High Commission in London on Sunday evening, March 19, and vandalised the office amid a police action against Amritpal Singh.
Amidst chants of ‘Khalistan Zindabad’, a man sporting an orange turban was seen scaling the walls of the building and pulling down the Indian flag. The UK govt failed to provide security when the office was attacked by Khalistani elements.
The Indian government had reacted strongly by calling in the senior-most diplomat at the British High Commission.
The Ministry of External Affairs had demanded an explanation for the complete absence of British security that allowed the pro-Khalistan elements to enter the High Commission premises.
“She [Deputy High Commissioner Christina Scott] was reminded in this regard of the basic obligations of the UK Government under the Vienna Convention,” MEA had said, adding that “India finds unacceptable the indifference of the UK Government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK.”
The British High Commission refused to issue any comment on the matter, saying that they do not comment on security matters.
Similar incidents happened in December 2013 when Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade was arrested in New York for visa fraud related to her alleged exploitation of an Indian domestic worker. The Indian government had removed similar visible security cement blocks and barricades outside the US embassy in Delhi following her arrest and strip-search.