The UK Police today arrested two people after protest broke outside the Indian High Commission in London over Kashmir.
Protesters smashed windows of the Indian High Commission and even broke a windowpane of the building as they carried flags of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and raised “freedom” slogans.
Confirming the violent protest, the Indian High Commission had tweeted, “Another violent protest outside the Indian High Commission in London , on 3 September 2019. Damage caused to the premises.” The Indian High Commission had also shared a photo of the damaged window pane on Twitter.
Responding to the tweet by India in the UK, London Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the violent protests, saying it was “unacceptable”. “I utterly condemn this unacceptable behaviour and have raised this incident with @metpoliceuk to take action,” London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted.
Tuesday’s incident had marked the second time after India raised concerns over protests outside the Indian High Commission on August 15.
Meanwhile, London police arrested four people in connection with the incident. A foot-long dagger was confiscated from one of the protesters, the police said. The protests were organised against the Indian government’s move to revoke Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
While Pro BJP government media reported the 1000 plus protestors over blockade of Communication to the people of Kashmir Valley and arrest of Kashmir politicians as the Independence Day celebrations by the Indian diaspora in London were disrupted by Pakistan-backed protestors and pro-Khalistani elements, who hurled stones and eggs on the embassy building and Indians gathered outside. However International media reported different picture
BBC in its news reported :
Among the thousands of people gathered outside the Indian High Commission in London on Thursday, a woman stood with tears in her eyes as she joined in the chants: “What do we want? Freedom.”
Part of the city was brought to a standstill as crowds of anti-Indian government demonstrators flooded the road, protesting against the country’s decision to place part of Kashmir under lockdown.
Police had to keep them apart from a separate group who had gathered to celebrate India’s Independence Day.
But for the protesters – passing around black strips of cloth which they tied to their arms and waving photographs from Kashmir – it was a “black day”.
The protest came as Indian PM Narendra Modi said his decision to strip Indian-administered Kashmir of its special status, which gave it significant autonomy from the rest of India, would restore the region to its “past glory”.
Reuters in its news reported :
In London, protesters carried banners saying “Kashmir is Burning”, “Free Kashmir” and “Modi: Make Tea Not War”,
A small counter-demonstration was kept apart from the main protest by the police.
Four people were arrested for affray, obstruction of police said.
“During demonstration One person was injured during the demonstrations,” London Police added .
Many of the London protesters had come to the capital from other English cities on specially chartered buses.
“We want to show our solidarity with our Kashmiri brothers,” said Amin Tahir, a British pensioner of Kashmiri origin who came from Birmingham on one of the coaches.
“Since 1947 Kashmir has been struggling to be free from India. Now Modi has changed the law by force to stop Kashmir’s autonomy,” he said
