A protest calling on the Prime Minister to secure the release of a Dumbarton man detained in India took place outside 10 Downing Street.
The family of Jagtar Singh Johal marked the five year anniversary of the Dumbarton man’s detention in India on November 4 by protesting outside the residency of the Prime Minister, calling on him to ‘bring Jaggi home’.
Jagtar - known as Jaggi – was arrested in India after his wedding in November 2017, accused of helping to fund a Sikh-on-Hindu assassination plot – something he and his family strongly deny.
An investigation by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled in May that there was no legal basis for Jagtar’s detention in India, citing multiple violations of his human rights – including claims he was tortured into signing a false ‘confession’, through electric shocks to his ear lobes, nipples, and genitals.
Hundreds of protesters marched on Downing Street, alongside Jagtar’s family and local MP Martin Docherty-Hughes, demanding the UK government calls for Jaggi’s release amid fears he faces the death penalty.
SNP MP Martin Docherty-Hughes joined Jagtar’s family on the steps of 10 Downing Street to hand over a letter and petition pressing PM Rishi Sunak to act.
He said: “It is a horrendous, and quite frankly, a pathetic scenario in which the British government finds itself when it deals with my constituent’s case.
“It’s time for Rishi Sunak and the UK Foreign Secretary to defend Jagtar’s rights to a free and fair trial. Trade is important, but it should not be at the expense of the human rights of a young Scot from Dumbarton.
“Jagtar’s family here in West Dunbartonshire have campaigned tirelessly for his release. We dedicate ourselves to continuing the campaign for Jaggi - to secure justice and bring him home to his family.”
The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We have consistently raised our concerns about Mr Johal’s case directly with the Government of India, including his allegations of torture and his right to a fair trial and we are committed to doing what we can to assist him. The Foreign Secretary visited India and raised his case with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar on 29 October. The UK strongly opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle and we will continue to make this clear to the Government of India.”
