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'No Criminality': Scotland Police Close Probe Into Khalistani Radicals Blocking Indian High Commissioner's Entry Into Glasgow Gurdwara

Swarajya Staff

Oct 05, 2023, 11:20 AM | Updated 11:20 AM IST


Indian High Commissioner to UK Vikram Doraiswami
Indian High Commissioner to UK Vikram Doraiswami

The investigation into the incident involving three radical Khalistani activists preventing Indian high commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami from entering a Glasgow gurdwara has been closed by the Scottish police.

The Scotland Police have determined that no offence was committed.

The Indian High Commission in London had expressed concern over the incident and promptly reported it to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office and the metropolitan police.

The Indian High Commission had urged the UK authorities to take action against the three men involved. Indo-Pacific minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan expressed her concern about the incident, emphasizing the importance of ensuring “the safety and security of foreign diplomats".

However, Police Scotland said on Wednesday that no criminality has been established in the Gurdwara incident.

“Following extensive enquiries into a report of a disturbance in the Albert Drive area of Glasgow on Friday, September 29, no criminality has been established," the Scotland police spokesperson was quoted as saying by Times of India.

Meanwhile, Kuldeep Shekhawat, the president of Overseas Friends of BJP UK, has accused the Scotland police and the FCDO of negligence.

“This is a case of absolute negligence on the part of Scotland police, and the FCDO which is not giving due security and respect to such a high-ranking Indian diplomat and not ready to look at the circumstances under which he was not allowed into the Glasgow gurdwara," Shekhawat was quoted as saying by ToI.

Last Friday, three Khalistani radicals prevented Indian diplomat Doraiswami and consul-general Bijay Selvaraj from entering a Sikh Gurdwara in Scotland to attend a community event. They also attempted to open the door of the Indian High Commissioner's car , but were stopped by Naveed Asghar, deputy chairman of the Conservative Muslim Forum.

According to a group called "Sikhs in Scotland" on social media platform X, the protesters involved were British citizens residing in Scotland.

The group stated that the Sikh gurdwara welcomes all respectful worshippers, but foreign governments and ambassadors do not have the right to conduct official business there.


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