Pro-Khalistan demonstrators gathered outside the High Commission of India in London on Monday, displaying anti-India placards and chanting slogans. The protest, organized by British Sikh groups and fueled by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's recent allegations of Indian involvement in the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, aimed to draw attention to the issue.
The Ministry of External Affairs strongly rejected Trudeau's claims as "absurd and motivated." The protesters, advocating for Sikh concerns, highlighted the suspicious death of activist Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda during the demonstration, PTI reported.
Metropolitan Police officers, in uniform, were stationed outside India House, ensuring security as the protesters voiced their concerns. The demonstration, lasting approximately two hours, featured speeches in Punjabi and pro-Khalistan slogans. The area was patrolled by police vehicles throughout the event.
Earlier on Monday, the Sikh Federation (UK) held a press conference in London, announcing a formal request for an inquest into the death of Avtar Singh Khanda. The pro-Khalistan activist had passed away in Birmingham in June. The family's barrister, Michael Polak, cited the timing of Khanda's death and reported death threats connected to Indian politics as reasons for suspicion.
Contrary to earlier speculations, the West Midlands Police had stated that there were "no suspicious circumstances" surrounding Khanda's death. The official cause of death, according to the post-mortem, was acute leukemia or blood cancer.
