BORIS Johnson's government is facing increasing pressure to do more to help a Scot held abroad as the anniversary of the case approaches.
It's nearing four years since blogger, internet marketer and fitness fan Jagtar Singh Johal was bundled into a van by plain clothes police in the Indian state of Punjab. He'd travelled there to marry his Indian wife a fortnight earlier and has since stated that a "confession" he made early in his detention was made under torture.
Known to supporters by the nickname Jaggi, he has not been formally charged over the serious allegations against him, which include membership of the proscribed Sikh nationalist Khalistan Liberation Front (KLF) and paying £3000 to fund a murder plot targeting right-wing Hindus. It's understood he may face the death penalty.
His family, including solicitor brother Gurpreet Singh Johal, believe he was targeted by authorities for his nationality and involvement in a blog commemorating the 1984 atrocities against Sikhs in India.
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SNP MP Martin Docherty Hughes, who represents West Dunbartonshire, raised the issue at Prime Minister's Questions. He said: "The Prime Minister is very much aware of my constituent Jagtar Singh Johal, who was abducted by plainclothes officers while shopping with his new wife in the city of Jolanda, Punjab on the 4th of November.
"The intervening years, Mr Speaker, have seen allegations of torture overlooked and ostensibly strong words from his government about the case overshadowed by excitement over a trade deal with the Republic of India.
"Therefore, Mr Speaker, as we approach the fourth anniversary of Jagtar's arrest tomorrow, with no charges having been brought in the case by the government of India, will this government be able to grant the smallest of favours to Jagtar's wife and his family in Dumbarton and declare his detention an arbitrary one."
Johnson replied: "Mr Speaker, I thank him for the campaign that he's been running for a long time. And what I would say to him is that the closeness of our relationship with India in no way diminishes our willingness to raise that case with the government of India. Indeed, the Foreign Secretary raised it only the last time she was in India."
Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar are among politicians who have spoken out about the plight of Johal.
UN agencies and two international charities – Redress and Reprieve – have taken on the case.
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