Close X
Friday, September 20, 2024
ADVT 
International

Brother hopes Cameron can secure release of British Sikh jailed in India: Report

Darpan News Desk IANS, 20 Nov, 2023 12:43 PM
  • Brother hopes Cameron can secure release of British Sikh jailed in India: Report

London, Nov 20 (IANS) The brother of British Sikh Jagtar Singh Johal, who has been detained in an Indian jail since 2017 over terror charges, has said he is "hopeful" that the UK's new foreign secretary will be able to secure his release.

Gurpreet Singh Johal said while the family feels let-down by the UK government, they hope that former PM David Cameron, who returned to politics after a reshuffle last week, can make a difference, The Standard newspaper reported.

"We're hopeful that this Foreign Secretary... well first of all he has to meet us to confirm exactly what he is going to be doing to bring Jagtar back home, but really enough is enough because this government has really let down Jagtar and his family over the last six years," Gurpreet, who is a lawyer and Labour councillor in Dumbarton, said.

"We're hopeful that the sixth foreign secretary after six years might do something that the other foreign secretaries have failed to do," Gurpreet said speaking to BBC Radio Scotland's 'Good Morning Scotland' programme. Dumbarton-based Johal was in Punjab for his wedding when he was arrested in Jalandhar on November 4, 2017, over his alleged role in killings by the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), a banned terrorist organisation. According to his family, the 36-year-old has been tortured, including through electric shocks, before being made to sign a blank confession document -- allegations that have been denied by the Indian authorities.

He is currently being held at the Tihar Jail in Delhi and faces a possible death penalty over 10 accusations of murder and conspiracy to murder.

"We're hopeful that the contacts David Cameron has made over the years when he was the prime minister will be able to allow him to use that leverage and to do what all other foreign secretaries have failed to do and basically call for Jagtar’s release," Gurpreet said, referring to UK government's arbitrary detention policy.

Last year, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said that the "continued pre-trial detention of Johal lacks legal basis and is arbitrary".

A group of more than 70 MPs had called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to seek "immediate release" of Johal, as he travelled to New Delhi in September to attend the G20 leaders' summit.

Sunak confirmed that he raised Johal's case during his talks with counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the summit, but didn't provide details. Gurpreet said he last spoke to Jagtar on October 18.

"He is hopeful in the next six months or so that he could at least be out on bail but that's as much as I know because I don't know what situation he is in.

"He is trying to put light at the end of the tunnel by thinking that he will be out in the next six months at least on bail," Gurpreet told BBC Radio.

MORE International ARTICLES

US state's Senate passes bill to allow fireworks during Diwali

US state's Senate passes bill to allow fireworks during Diwali
The bill would designate Diwali as a state commemorative period and will allow the sale and discharge of fireworks during the five days of Diwali, which is usually between late October and early November.

US state's Senate passes bill to allow fireworks during Diwali

Telangana student killed in US as gun goes off accidentally

Telangana student killed in US as gun goes off accidentally
Mahankali Akhil Sai, 25, from Khammam district lost his life in the incident that occurred at Auburn in Alabama state on Monday night (local time). Sai had gone to the US about 13 months ago and was studying MS at Auburn University. He was also doing a part-time job at a nearby gas station. 

Telangana student killed in US as gun goes off accidentally

Indian-origin father of 3 dies after being hit by car in US

Indian-origin father of 3 dies after being hit by car in US
According to police, Patel was not in a crosswalk, and surveillance footage showed eastbound traffic had a green light at the time.  The Patel family has decided to donate Patel's kidneys following his death. 

Indian-origin father of 3 dies after being hit by car in US

US State Senate passes resolution honouring Sikh community

US State Senate passes resolution honouring Sikh community
The resolution, which was passed last week, appreciated the Sikhs for their humanitarian services, despite receiving hate and facing oppression for their faith worldwide.  In December, Utah became the 15th state in the US to include information about Sikhism, Sikh practices, and traditions in their schools' social studies syllabi.

US State Senate passes resolution honouring Sikh community

Indian-origin man jailed for sexually assaulting minor in UK

Indian-origin man jailed for sexually assaulting minor in UK
He was found guilty of four counts of sexual activity with a child following the conclusion of a trial at the same court on December 6, 2022. The court heard how Bremakumar carried out the abuse in 2010, targeting a young girl under the age of 16 who was known to him.

Indian-origin man jailed for sexually assaulting minor in UK

Former dictator, President, and military ruler of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf passes away in Dubai

Former dictator, President, and military ruler of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf passes away in Dubai
Musharraf, 79, was in Dubai since 2006. He was suffering with amyloidosis, a rare disease caused by an abnormal development of protein called amyloid in organs and tissues of the whole body. 

Former dictator, President, and military ruler of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf passes away in Dubai