NEW DELHI, Sept 19: The Indian High Commission in London on Monday strongly condemned the violence perpetrated against the Indian community in United Kingdom’s Leicester.
In its statement, the Indian High Commission protested the violence and vandalising of a Hindu temple in Leicester. “We have strongly taken up this matter with the UK authorities and have sought immediate action against those involved in these attacks. We call on the authorities to provide protection to the affected people,” the statement from the Indian High Commission said.
Fifteen people have so far been arrested for involvement in the violence, Leicestershire Police said in a statement. Leicester Police said they were investigating the matter of a flag outside a religious place at Melton Road being pulled down.
Some videos on social media also showed protesting Hindu groups raising “Jai Shree Ram” slogans. The groups were accused by the other side of vandalising properties owned by Muslims in Leicester. Leicester Police have called for calm.
The recent incidents of violence follow various videos and reports that have been circulating on social media, about clashes between Hindu and Muslim groups in the city since fans clashed following an India-Pakistan Asia Cup cricket match played in Dubai on August 28.
Leicestershire Police said its operation in the east Leicester area affected by the disorder continues to prevent any further disorder, with 15 people arrested. “The impact this disorder is having on our local communities is not acceptable,” the police statement said. “We will not tolerate violence, disorder or intimidation in Leicester, and we continue to call for calm and dialogue. Our police operations and investigations continue with rigour and at scale,” it added.
“Our policing operation in the East Leicester area continues. There have been no further reports of disorder. We would like to thank the local community for their support in reducing tensions, the Leicestershire police said. The force said a number of neighbouring police forces, including the mounted police unit, had been deployed to bring matters under control. Dispersal and stop-and-search powers were also used to restore calm.
It followed clashes on Saturday evening, when the police said it became aware of a video circulating showing a man pulling down a flag outside a religious building on Melton Road, Leicester, and said the incident would be investigated. Videos circulating on social media showed a temple flag being ripped out.
Police had imposed similar dispersal orders earlier this month after a few days of unrest in the wake of the India versus Pakistan match in Dubai on August 28. The police and community leaders have been calling for calm over the past few weeks, amid reports of men coming in from other cities of the UK to stoke disorder in Leicester.
“It’s mostly young men in their late teens and early 20s and I have heard suggestions people have come in (to the city) from outside looking for an opportunity to have a set to. It’s very worrying for people in the areas where this has happened,” said Sir Peter Soulsby, Leicester city mayor.
Over the past 24 hours, media in the United Kingdom have been reporting on “large-scale” and “serious disorder” in Leicester after street clashes between large groups of Hindus and Muslims. Reports circulating on social media claimed the spark this weekend was a protest march, with footage showing police attempting to hold back two sets of crowds as objects such as glass bottles were thrown, and some people could be seen carrying sticks and batons.
(Manas Dasgupta)
