British MPs take up Johal ‘torture’ with Theresa May

LONDON More than 70 MPs from different parties have signed a letter by Labour MP Preet Kaur Gill to Prime Minister Theresa May, raising the issue of alleged torture of British citizen Jagtar Singh Johal, who was arrested in Punjab in November 2017.

Seeking an urgent statement in Parliament from foreign secretary Boris Johnson, the letter referred to reports in the British media about Johal being allegedly tortured. He has been denied an independent medical examination, the letter said.

Johal's arrest has often been raised by British ministers and officials with Indian counterparts, including during the April visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Punjab Police rubbished the reports about the alleged torture of Johal while in custody.

“All these allegations are baseless. Due legal process was followed during the arrest of Johal and he underwent proper medical examination under supervision of the court during remand,” a Punjab Police spokesman said.

A team that included Andrew Ayne, the British deputy high commissioner at Chandigarh, had a 65-minute consular access meeting with Johal at Ludhana on November 24, 2017, the spokesperson said, adding: “A malicious campaign has been launched by militants and their sympathisers as well as radical elements in Britain which is nothing but a slanderous campaign.” Gill, who is chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Sikhs, wrote: “We have written to the CM of Punjab, but to no avail.

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