Scotland Police launches probe into attack on Indian envoy at Glasgow gurudwara

The Scotland Police said on Friday that it responded to a report of a disturbance in the Albert Drive neighbourhood of Glasgow. It added that an investigation is ongoing to determine the complete facts surrounding the incident. The Scotland Police’s announcement follows a statement made by the Indian High Commission in London on Saturday, which said it had informed UK authorities of the “disgraceful incident” at the Glasgow Gurudwara, where individuals from outside Scotland “deliberately disrupted” a planned event for Vikram Doraiswami, the Indian High Commissioner to Britain. In an email statement to news agency ANI, Scotland police spokesperson said, “We were called around 1.05pm on Friday, 29 September, to a report of a disturbance that happened in the Albert Drive area of Glasgow". The spokesperson added, “There were no reports of any injuries and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.” In a statement released on Saturday, the Indian High Commission in London said that individuals from outside Scotland “deliberately disrupted” an event organised for the Indian High Commissioner to the UK. “On September 29, 2023, three persons- all from areas outside Scotland-deliberately disrupted a planned interaction organised by the Gurudwara Committee for the community, the High Commissioner and the Consul General of India. This interaction was to discuss community and consular issues," the Indian High Commission in London said in a statement. “The organizers included senior community leaders, ladies and Committee members, and a member of Scottish Parliament. They were threatened and abused by these elements. In an effort to prevent any potential altercation, the HC and CG decided to leave the premises shortly upon their arrival,” it added. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Metropolitan Police were notified of the incident, according to the Indian High Commission. According to the statement, numerous community bodies, including the organisers, have publicly expressed regret for the tragedy and requested the authorities to punish those responsible. “One of the non-local extremist elements attempted to violently force open the HC’s car door - a matter that will require suitable police consideration. It is due to the quick reaction of one of the organizers, who physically intervened at the car door, that a bigger incident was avoided,” the India’s High Commission added in its statement. The statement was released after social media videos showed Doraiswami being accosted near the parking area of the gurudwara located on Albert Drive in Glasgow by pro-Khalistani elements, who blocked the Indian envoy from entering the gurudwara. In the video, some of the men are heard saying, “All Indian envoys must be subjected to this as India was targeting them". Several British MPs denounced the incident. Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the UK’s Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific, stated on Saturday that she was “concerned” to learn that the Glasgow meeting between the Gurudwara Committee and the Indian High Commissioner Doraiswami had been postponed. Trevelyan stated on X, formerly Twitter, that everyone should be able to enter places of worship in the UK and that the security and safety of international locations is of the utmost importance. Trevelyan posted, “Concerned to see that the Indian High Commissioner @VDoraiswami was stopped from meeting with the Gurudwara Committee at the Gurudwara in Glasgow. The safety and security of foreign diplomats is of utmost importance and our places of worship in the UK must be open to all.” (With agency inputs)