LONDON: UK foreign secretary David Cameron has intervened in the case of Scottish Sikh Jagtar Singh Johal, who has been imprisoned in India for six years, calling for an investigation into claims he was tortured in police custody in Punjab, but stopping short of calling for his release.
In a letter addressed to Johal’s brother, Gupreet Singh Johal, seen by TOI, Cameron wrote: “I am committed to seeing a resolution to your brother’s case…which must include investigations into Mr Johal’s serious allegations of torture.” He added: “We have been clear on the implementation of the 15 November court order mandating family video calls.Please be assured we will continue to raise our concerns about Johal’s case with government of India.”
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, South Asia minister, raised Johal’s case with EAM Jaishankar during a visit to Gujarat in January and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak raised the matter with PM Modi last September.
Cameron also wrote he was happy to meet Johal’s family.
Johal claims he was tortured in police custody in Moga in November 2017 following his arrest in Rama Mandir, Punjab. The Indian authorities deny these accusations.
Cameron wrote in a separate letter to Scottish National Party MP Martin John Docherty-Hughes: “Our assessment remains that calling for release would be considered interference in the ongoing Indian judicial process against Johal”and “would jeopardise our ability to offer consular assistance in Johal’s case”.
Johal is accused of being involved in a spate of targeted killings of right-wing political and religious figures in Punjab, including Ravinder Gosain, as part of a Khalistan Liberation Front plot. He denies the charges.
His brother is dissatisfied with Cameron’s response. He said: “They need to get him out and bring him home. Nothing else is good enough.”
Melissa Dring, head of policy at Reprieve, a legal rights organisation, said: “A young Scot is locked up round the clock in a windowless cell, facing a possible death sentence on trumped-up political charges, and ministers apparently dare not seek his release for fear of offending the Indian authorities. They refuse to do what it takes to bring him home.”
In a letter addressed to Johal’s brother, Gupreet Singh Johal, seen by TOI, Cameron wrote: “I am committed to seeing a resolution to your brother’s case…which must include investigations into Mr Johal’s serious allegations of torture.” He added: “We have been clear on the implementation of the 15 November court order mandating family video calls.Please be assured we will continue to raise our concerns about Johal’s case with government of India.”
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, South Asia minister, raised Johal’s case with EAM Jaishankar during a visit to Gujarat in January and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak raised the matter with PM Modi last September.
Cameron also wrote he was happy to meet Johal’s family.
Johal claims he was tortured in police custody in Moga in November 2017 following his arrest in Rama Mandir, Punjab. The Indian authorities deny these accusations.
Cameron wrote in a separate letter to Scottish National Party MP Martin John Docherty-Hughes: “Our assessment remains that calling for release would be considered interference in the ongoing Indian judicial process against Johal”and “would jeopardise our ability to offer consular assistance in Johal’s case”.
Johal is accused of being involved in a spate of targeted killings of right-wing political and religious figures in Punjab, including Ravinder Gosain, as part of a Khalistan Liberation Front plot. He denies the charges.
His brother is dissatisfied with Cameron’s response. He said: “They need to get him out and bring him home. Nothing else is good enough.”
Melissa Dring, head of policy at Reprieve, a legal rights organisation, said: “A young Scot is locked up round the clock in a windowless cell, facing a possible death sentence on trumped-up political charges, and ministers apparently dare not seek his release for fear of offending the Indian authorities. They refuse to do what it takes to bring him home.”