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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Gemma Ryder

Keir Starmer urges Boris Johnson to demand release of Scot Jagtar Singh Johal detained in India

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called on the Prime Minister to seek the "immediate release" of a Scots man that has been detained in India for five years.

Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, was arrested by Indian authorities when travelling to his wedding there in 2017.

He is being held without trial under India's anti-terror laws after being accused of conspiring to murder a number of right-wing Hindu leaders.

The 35-year-old maintains his innocence and claims he has been tortured by police officers in jail.

Earlier this month the UN's Working Group concluded that Jagtar's imprisonment is "arbitrary" and called for his immediate releasing saying the Scot “was targeted because of his activities as a Sikh practitioner and supporter and because of his activism.”

The family of Jagtar Singh Johal from Dumbarton. (Daily Record)

Now, Sir Keir has written to Boris Johnson asking why the UK Government hasn't followed the UN's lead and made an official request for Jagtar's release.

In a letter shared with the Daily Record, he wrote: "As you will be aware, Jagtar was arrested in 2017 after travelling to India for his wedding where he was tortured by police officers into making a so-called “confession” to charges carrying the death penalty.

"The UN’s expert panel found that there was no legal basis for Jagtar’s continued detention and highlighted that he has been tortured and denied the right to a fair trial.

"When a British national has been so gravely mistreated, with no legal basis, the UK Government must act decisively to negotiate their release. Yet it appears the British Government has not followed the UN’s lead and made an official request for Jagtar’s release.

"So, on behalf of Jagtar’s family, I would like to ask why this request has not been made and when they can expect your government to make the request?"

Sir Keir also offered the support of Labour in cross-party support for securing Jagtar's release.

He added: "The UK has a deep and enduring bond with India, and it is vital our governments work together to constructively resolve cases such as this. I therefore urge you to seek Jagtar’s immediate release from prison and bring this young British man home to his family in Dumbarton."

Gurpreet Singh Johal, who has recently been elected as a Labour councillor for West Dunbartonshire, has been endlessly campaigning with his family for his brother's release.

Jagtar Singh Johal at his wedding in India. (PA Wire)

He said: "It has been a long and arduous journey. It is hoped this push from Keir will finally force the PM into action and bring my brother back home where he belongs.

"It all started under Boris’s watch as the Foreign Secretary now as the PM he has the chance to rectify his mistakes."

The UK Government has said it had "consistently" raised their concerns about Jagtar's case with India, with the Prime Minister most recently raising the issue with Indian PM Narendra Modi when they met in April.

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