Lawmakers Urge Immediate Effort to Secure Release of Jagtar Singh Johal
Fresh Take:
Around a hundred UK MPs and Lords have penned a letter to the foreign secretary, pushing for prompt and forceful action to secure the liberty of Scottish Sikh man Jagtar Singh Johal, who's been locked away in an Indian prison since 2017.
Johal, hailing from Dumbarton, was nabbed in November of that year on allegations linked to terrorism. As of now, he hasn't been found guilty of any crime, and in March, he was acquitted in one of the nine cases filed against him.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has been approached for comment, and earlier, they mentioned that the UK government remains devoted to expediting progress on the case.
Johal, despite his acquittal, still faces eight more trials based on similar charges, brought by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA). The family and advocates of Johal argue that these subsequent trials constitute double jeopardy, given that Indian law bars repeated prosecutions for the same offense.
Campaigners claim that the evidence against Johal rests on a questionable confession, allegedly extracted through torture, which his legal team disputes. Johal is said to be in solitary confinement, under 24/7 surveillance, and without access to fellow inmates. There are concerns about his deteriorating mental and physical health, with his family likening the treatment to "mental torture."
Parliamentary hearings in April 2025 emphasized the urgency of securing Johal’s release, while international media outlets like The Guardian have reported on his solitary confinement and the lack of due process. Legal challenges to dismiss the remaining cases are also underway, as these cases lack credible witnesses or evidence.
In light of these developments, pressure is mounting on the UK government to step up their diplomatic dialogue with India to address what advocates label as a violation of international human rights standards.
- The UK MPs and Lords, despite Jagtar Singh Johal from Dumbarton being cleared in one case, are urging the foreign secretary to act promptly, as Singh still faces eight more trials related to crime in India.
- Critics argue that the evidence against Singh, based on a questionable confession, was allegedly obtained through torture, a claim that his legal team vehemently disputes.
- The Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA) has brought these subsequent trials against Singh, which his family and advocates claim constitute double jeopardy, given that Indian law bars repeated prosecutions for the same offense.
- As Johal's mental and physical health continues to deteriorate in solitary confinement, under constant surveillance, and without access to fellow inmates, pressure is mounting on the UK government to intervene in this matter, particularly in the context of war-and-conflicts, politics, general news, and human rights concerns.
