SUPPORTERS of detained Scot Jagtar Singh Johal walked through London yesterday to draw attention to his case.
The Dumbarton man, known as Jaggi, has been held in India for more than 200 days and alleges torture by Punjab police during his detention.
Charges recently announced accuse the internet marketer of supporting terrorism, something his legal team and family strongly deny. While this was initially reported in the UK media as a murder charge, the allegation in fact relates to the financing of targeted killings of RSS leaders. The nationalist organisation is accused by opponents of Hindu militancy.
Initial reports into Jaggi’s November arrest, which was made a fortnight after his wedding in the Punjab region, linked the action to translated material published on a website dedicated to anti-Sikh violence in 1984.
Yesterday dozens of Scottish Sikhs made their stand as part of an annual rally marking that year’s Golden Temple massacre. The Sikh Press Association says 15,000 attended.
Jagtar’s brother Gurpreet Singh, who addressed the crowds, said: “What happened in 1984 to the Sikhs in India is still impacting Sikhs today all over the world, and the situation of my brother Jagtar is a clear example of that. Anyone that speaks out against Indian government atrocities can be targeted as my brother has been.
“With so many that have come to London today and shown support for the Free Jaggi Now campaign, I hope our UK Government will take notice and intervene in his situation.”
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