By IANS,
New Delhi : A group of around 10-15 Tamil protesters shouting anti-Sri Lanka slogans barged into the Sri Lankan high commission here Friday and started vandalising it, the first time such an incident has happened here. Sri Lanka has expressed “shock” over the attack.
Sri Lanka has taken up the issue with India’s external affairs ministry.
“We are shocked. We have taken it up with the external affairs ministry and the Delhi Police. We will also be writing to the ministry,” S. Gunaratne, first secretary in the Sri Lankan high commission, told IANS.
The incident took place around 3 p.m. The Tamil protesters after scaling the wall of the high commission, located in the high-security diplomatic enclave in the Indian capital, smashed 10-15 flower pots.
“In the afternoon, there were about 40-50 people chanting anti-Lanka slogans. They looked like Tamils and flaunted placards attacking the Sri Lankan government,” Gunaratne said.
“Around 10 people had jumped over the perimeter of the main gate. Since it was a holiday, there was no staff around. They smashed several flower pots and chanted slogans,” he said.
The Lankan security staff managed to overpower them, he said. No one was arrested.
The Sri Lankan high commission is a stone’s throw from the Chanakyapuri police station.
“No one was injured. It all happened in two minutes. Before the police could swing into action, they had fled. No one could be arrested,” Additional Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) S. Dass told IANS.
“These people were Tamils protesting and they are extending support to Tamils in Sri Lanka. They were prepared and had arrived along with news channel reporters. We are seeking video footage from news channels to identify those who stormed the high commission,” he said.