Indian-origin Members of Parliament (MPs) are among 70 lawmakers in Britain lobbying British Prime Minister Theresa May to step in at the “highest levels” with the Indian authority over allegations of ill-treating against a British Sikh murder suspect lodged in a Punjab jail.
Earlier this year, in November, Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton in Scotland, was arrested by the Indian authorities in on charges of fanning communal disturbance in Punjab.
Sikh groups in the United Kingdom had set up a “Free Jaggi” drive for the 31-year-old and the issue has also been raised in the House of Commons.
As part of renewed efforts in the case, the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Sikhs has gathered signatures of over 70 MPs on a letter demanding a Parliament statement by UK foreign secretary Boris Johnson on Johal’s detention in India.
“Johal alleges he has been subjected to torture at the hands of the Indian security forces,” writes Labour MP and chair of the APPG for British Sikhs Preet Kaur Gill in her letter dated July 2 to Downing Street.
In a recent handwritten account detailing his treatment that has just become available, Johal alleges that “The torture took place intermittently, numerous times each day. Electric shocks were administered by placing the crocodile clips on my earlobes, nipples, and private parts. Multiple shocks were given each day.”
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“And that threats of taking me to a remote location where I would be shot dead were also given. At one point, petrol was brought into the room and I was threatened with being burnt,” notes the letter entitled ‘Detention and torture of British citizen Jagtar Singh Johal’.
They claim that representations to Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh had been to “no avail” and urge Theresa May to “use all the diplomatic means” at her disposal to ensure the government of India “abides by the rule of law”.
The MPs also allege that the Indian government has ignored representations by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and the Vice-Chair of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
By Swomya
