The British Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, has announced that security measures at the Indian High Commission in London will be reviewed following what he described as "unacceptable

acts of violence" towards the mission's staff. The move comes after India summoned the most senior British diplomat in New Delhi to protest at the actions of "separatist and extremist elements" who targeted the diplomatic mission.

According to reports in the BBC and Indian media, protesters carrying "Khalistan" banners removed the Indian flag from the first-floor balcony of the building in protest against recent police action in Punjab state. Khalistan is a term used to describe an independent Sikh state that is sought by some groups, but which does not currently exist.

The BBC reported that a crowd had gathered outside the high commission's building on Sunday, and that windows had been broken. India subsequently demanded an explanation for the "complete absence of British security" around the premises.

In response to these events, Cleverly said that an ongoing police investigation was underway, and that the UK would make any necessary changes to ensure the safety of the Indian mission's staff, as it had done for demonstrations on Wednesday.

The Hindu, an Indian daily newspaper, reported on Wednesday that at least one hundred police officers were standing guard on both sides of the road outside the High Commission in London.

The incident has sparked concern about the safety of diplomatic missions in the UK. Cleverly's announcement comes amid heightened tensions between the UK and India, particularly around the issue of Kashmir, which has been disputed between the two countries since 1947. Photo by Fred Romero, Wikimedia commons.