New Delhi, India – The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has announced a significant breakthrough in its investigation into the violent attacks on the Indian high commission in London last year. A key accused has been arrested in connection with the back-to-back attacks that took place on March 19 and 22. This marks the first arrest made in the case, according to a statement released by the federal agency on Thursday.
The arrested individual, identified as Inderpal Singh Gaba, a resident of Hounslow, UK, was apprehended in Delhi for his alleged involvement in the March 22 attack on the high commission. The incident involved over 2,000 pro-Khalistan supporters who vandalized the building and defaced it by throwing various items, including ink. Additionally, on March 19, a separate attack led to the removal of the Indian flag and caused injuries to embassy staff.
The protests were reportedly organized by Avtar Singh Khanda, a UK-based Sikh radical and leader of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF). Khanda, who passed away in June 2023, was known to have close ties to Khalistani terrorist Jagtar Singh Tara. The attacks were believed to be in retaliation for actions taken by Punjab police against Amritpal Singh, the chief of a pro-Khalistani group known as Waris Punjab De.
The NIA emphasized that the incidents in London were part of a larger conspiracy aimed at targeting Indian missions and officials. The agency’s investigation revealed that the attacks were linked to the Punjab police’s actions against Amritpal Singh. Following the arrests, the NIA released CCTV footage of the attacks and identified multiple suspects involved in the violence.
In an effort to gather evidence, a team from the NIA traveled to London in May 2023, collaborating with the Metropolitan Police. Look-out circulars have been issued for approximately a dozen suspects, and further investigations are underway to identify more individuals involved in the attacks. The agency conducted raids at various locations in Punjab and Haryana last year as part of the ongoing probe.
Authorities suspect a larger conspiracy orchestrated by Pakistan-backed pro-Khalistan leaders located in the UK. The NIA took over the investigation from the Delhi Police following discussions between officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and their counterparts in the UK. The mastermind behind the attacks, Avtar Singh Khanda, along with other associates, are being scrutinized as part of the ongoing investigations into the violent incidents at the Indian high commission in London.