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UK Government Failing 30-year old Scot Torture Victim Held In Indian Jail For 3 Months Without Charge, Says Sikh Federation (UK)
February 2, 2018 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau
London: Jagtar Singh Jaggi on Thursday was produced in court for the 24th time, but still no evidence has been presented and no charges have been forthcoming. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) that took over the case six weeks ago from Punjab police was reprimanded by the judge today for delays and failing to produce the correct paper work, says Sikh Federation (UK).
Martin Docherty-Hughes the MP for 30-year old Jagtar Singh Johal from Dumbarton and Jagtar’s elder brother also today met with Mark Field, the Foreign Minister responsible for relations with India. Mark Field was told the UK Government was failing to protect him from ill-treatment and not doing enough to secure his release and return home.
Bhai Amrik Singh Gill [File Photo]
Foreign Minister Rory Stewart gave assurances in the House of Commons on 21 November of ‘extreme action’ against the Indian authorities in relation to the torture of the 30-year old Brit.
However, three months following Jagtar’s abduction on 4 November, allegations of third degree torture, denial of an independent medical examination, lack of private access to consular staff and no charges the Foreign Office is being accused of deliberately wasting time and negligence, reads the quote from the statement issued by Sikh Federation (UK).
Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) said:
“The Foreign Secretary has failed to issue a statement or meet Jagtar’s family and Sir Dominic Asquith, the British High Commissioner to India has also been silent.”
“Mark Field has been photographed winning and dinning with Indian government representatives and more concerned with trade and protests against the Indian PM, Narendra Modi when he visits Britain in April.”
On Thursday a report titled: ‘Beyond discretion – The protection of British Nationals abroad from torture and ill-treatment’ was released in Parliament by Redress, a human rights organisation dedicated to securing justice for torture victims. More than 100 British citizens a year are subjected to ill-treatment in foreign jails, but many struggle to get the Foreign Office assistance they need.
At the launch in Parliament organised by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Human Rights those present heard from Richard Radcliffe on his campaign in the case of his wife Nazanin Zaghari-Radcliffe, a British mother jailed in Iran.
Others that spoke included Gurpreet Singh Johal the brother of Jagtar Singh Johal and Billy Irving one of the Chennai 6 who were scathing in Britain’s approach with India. Several Sikh representatives spoke about Jagtar Singh Johal and India as well as Martin Docherty-Hughes the MP for Jagtar Singh Johal, Liz McInnes the Shadow Minister responsible for relations with India and Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi the MP from Slough.
All speakers in relation to Jagtar Singh Johal and the Chennai 6 agreed that the British Government was failing to provide strong enough protection to its citizens when they are unjustly jailed and tortured In India.
Bhai Amrik Singh continued:
“We are deeply concerned with the time taken by Foreign Office officials to act upon Jagtar’s allegations of third degree torture and their failure to gain private access since his abduction three months ago.”
“Consular officials appear to simply be relying on physical signs of torture and ignoring the relentless psychological torture Jagtar has been under.”
“Although the Indian authorities have been torturing and mistreating Jagtar the UK Government has become complicit without taking the ‘extreme action’ they promised MPs in Parliament to protect him.”
“The Foreign Office must immediately intervene or there is likely to be a mass protest later this month in London due to their negligence and also will increase the number of protesters when the Indian PM attends the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April.”
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Related Topics: Human Rights Abuse in India, Indian State, Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi (UK), Sikh Diaspora, Sikh Federation UK, Sikh News UK, Sikhs in United Kingdom, United Kingdom
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