Indian man freed by Immigration officials after crowd blocks the van for hours in Glasgow

A Glasgow Immigration Enforcement van was stopped by hundreds of local community members when the authorities detained two men from their home in the residential area of Pollokshields.

NRI Affairs News Desk

A Glasgow Immigration Enforcement van was stopped by hundreds of local community members when the authorities detained two men from their home in the residential area of Pollokshields.

On Thursday morning, more than 200 residents of Pollokshields surrounded a government van carrying two men detained by the UK Border Force officials apparently to deport.

British authorities attempted to arrest a Muslim immigrant family in Glasgow, during the holy observance of Eid al-Fitr, at that.

Locals rallied against this cruel act and surrounded the police van, subsequently securing the release of those detained.

Keep up the good work. https://t.co/9bQAOaM6ov

— Tarvashbek 🇵🇸🇺🇿 (@Tarvashbek) May 13, 2021

The local member started posting pictures and videos on social media, and hundreds of people gathered in the street to stop the authorities as the posts went viral.

Some protesters could be seen positioned themselves under the van too.

The protesters, chanting “Leave our neighbours, let them go” and “Cops go home” as the local police soon intervened.

People were opposed to a deportation on the day of Eid. One of the protesters compared the immigration operation on Eid to a police raid on Christmas Day.

Having spent hours trying to get Home Office to abandon their operation, without success, I am pleased Police Scot intervened on public safety & health grounds to release individuals involved.

But let me be clear, the Hostile Environment created by UK Govt is not welcome here. pic.twitter.com/fNUcBvmHei

— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) May 13, 2021

After hours of standoff, the two men were set free by the authorities, leaving the crowd euphoric.

“You messed with the wrong city,” said one of the protesters.

“I’m just overwhelmed by Glasgow’s solidarity for refugees and asylum seekers. Refugees are welcome here. This is a victory for the community,” another protester was heard shouting.

A Police Scotland statement said Superintendent Mark Sutherland had decided to release the detained men “in order to protect the safety, public health and wellbeing of those involved in the detention and subsequent protest”.

1/ Today’s events were entirely down to @ukhomeoffice actions. @policescotland were in an invidious position – they do not assist in the removal of asylum seekers but do have a duty to protect public safety. They act independently of ministers, but I support this decision https://t.co/9SCNGa6tpy

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) May 13, 2021

Scottish Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said the Home Office’s actions had been “reckless” and added both he and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had been in touch with the Home Office to abandon the operation.

Saying that immigration was a reserved issue, he tweeted: “Situation should never have occurred – the UK Govt’s hostile environment is not welcome here”.

UNSW illuminates its library in support of Indian students

One of the detained men, Lakhvir Singh, spoke afterwards with the help of a translator. He said, “I’ve been astonished and overwhelmed by the support I’ve received from the people of Glasgow.”

34-year-old Indian citizen Singh said, “At around 9.30 am, immigration enforcement carried out a raid, and we were taken to security in the van. There were only five or six people at the time, but word spread and then there were crowds of hundreds.

“We are so grateful for the support,” Mr Singh was quoted saying by The Scotsman.

This is Lakhvir Singh who was locked in the back of UK Immigration Enforcement van for 8 hours today, before ‘people power’ in the Glasgow community forced a u-turn. He’s now released and back with family. Our exclusive on @itvnews at 10 tonight. https://t.co/mrJ10eXH0p pic.twitter.com/7Rqxl9RSIM

— Peter A Smith (@PeterAdamSmith) May 13, 2021

A UK Home Office spokesperson said, “The UK government is tackling illegal immigration and the harm it causes, often to the most vulnerable people, by removing those with no right to be in the UK. The operation in Glasgow was conducted in relation to suspected immigration offences, and the two Indian nationals complied with officers at all times.”

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