LONDON (MNN); Protest outside the Bangladeshi High Commission in London briefly turned tense on Saturday after pro-Khalistan Sikh activists and a small group of Hindu demonstrators confronted each other, forcing police to step in.
The demonstration was organised in response to reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. During the protest, Paramjeet Singh Pamma, described by organisers as a coordinator of the Khalistan Referendum campaign, became involved in a short scuffle with an Indian Hindu protester.
Metropolitan Police officers intervened promptly, separating those involved and moving the groups away from each other near the mission premises. No injuries were reported, and the situation was quickly brought under control.
After the incident, pro-Khalistan Sikh demonstrators regrouped near the entrance of the High Commission and continued their protest. They chanted slogans accusing the Indian government of involvement in the killings of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and others. Police remained on the scene to prevent further clashes.
The Khalistan Movement seeks the creation of an independent Sikh state carved out of India, an idea that traces its roots to the period surrounding the 1947 partition of the subcontinent.
India has declared Pamma a āmost wanted terroristā, a label he and his supporters strongly deny. He currently lives in the United Kingdom, where authorities have not announced any charges against him. Previous Indian extradition requests have not led to court proceedings.
The Metropolitan Police did not issue an immediate statement regarding arrests or further action.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was wanted by Indian authorities on terrorism-related charges that he denied, was shot dead by masked attackers in June 2023 outside a temple in Vancouver. His killing triggered a major diplomatic dispute between India and Canada.
In a related development, US authorities reportedly foiled a plot in November 2023 to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States and warned India over concerns of possible involvement. In October 2024, a US indictment named an Indian intelligence official and an Indian national in connection with the alleged plot.
Earlier this year, India also urged the United States to designate the separatist group Sikhs For Justice as a terrorist organisation, an issue raised during high-level talks between Indian and US officials.
