LONDON: British police said they arrested 20 protesters outside the Indian High Commission in London on Thursday after a Sikh demonstration turned violent.

Hundreds of protesters blocked the road outside the embassy, London police said. One officer was hurt in the scuffles.

According to the Sikh Press Association news service, the protest was part of the Sikh Lives Matter movement, which has sought to raise awareness of alleged police brutality in India.

“Whilst it was initially a peaceful protest the demonstrators blocked the roadway... and caused significant disruption to the central London road network,” a Scotland Yard spokesman said.

“Police liaison officers attempted to negotiate with those present, in order to facilitate peaceful protest and minimise the disruption to the public.

“A small group of protesters became violent towards police.

“During an altercation, one officer suffered a head injury and was taken to hospital.

“At this stage police believe a number of offences may have been committed.

There have been 20 arrests — the majority of which have been for affray. “In the 2011 British census, some 432,429 people said they were of the Sikh faith.

Earlier, clashes erupted between Sikh community protestors and police over an alleged incident of desecration in Faridkot district of Indian Punjab.

Sikhs belonging to Faridkot and its adjacent Moga district in Indian Punjab held protests after more than 100 torn up pages from Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book were found near a gurdwara in Bargari village of the district.

A violent clash between the police and protesters at Buttar Kalan village in Moga district also left 19 people injured. Nearly 200 protestors belonging to the Sikh community were also arrested by policemen, who were later released.

Indian Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Singh Badal appealed to the people to remain peaceful while heavy police force has been deployed in the district to avoid any untoward incident.

The CM assured people that those found guilty of sacrilege would not be spared.