The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has initiated an inquiry into the assaults on Indian diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada earlier this year. In a recent development, the investigative agency has successfully identified a total of 43 suspects implicated in the attacks on Indian Embassies situated in the aforementioned countries. Sources reveal that the identification process was carried out through a crowdsourcing approach employed by the NIA.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directed the NIA to take over the case of the attacks on Indian diplomatic missions in the US, the UK, and Canada in June of this year. Subsequently, the NIA has undertaken a comprehensive investigation, conducting a total of 50 raids across India and interrogating around 80 individuals associated with the attacks.
The targeted incidents occurred in March and July of this year, with Khalistani elements orchestrating two separate attacks on the Indian Embassy in London on March 19 during a protest. Similar assaults took place in San Francisco on July 2. The NIA is scrutinizing both occurrences, bringing charges such as criminal trespass, barbarism, causing damage to public property, attempting harm to embassy staff, and incitement to violence.
In a proactive move to gather information about the assailants involved in these violent acts, the NIA's team visited San Francisco in August 2023. Delhi Police's Special Cell has also filed FIRs under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the March 2023 attacks in Canada and San Francisco.
Moreover, a grenade was hurled during a protest at the High Commission of India in Canada, prompting the invocation of provisions under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Explosives Act.
In June of this year, the NIA released several CCTV footage clips depicting the attack on the Indian Mission in London. The agency sought the assistance of the public in identifying the culprits involved in the incident where alleged pro-Khalistani protestors attempted to vandalize the Indian High Commission in London and pulled down the national flag during protests on March 19. Officials maintain that their intervention thwarted the attempt.
