Scot held in Punjab ‘tortured’
A SCOT detained in India has been tortured by police, campaigners said yesterday.
Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, was arrested in Jalandhar, Punjab, on November 4.
Local media reported his arrest was linked to the killing of Hindu leaders in the state. But the Sikh Federation UK said no official charges have emerged and claimed he’s “the subject of some sort of conspiracy” by Punjab police and politicians.
Jagtar, 30, who got married in India last month, has told lawyers he has been tortured with “body separation techniques and electrocution to body parts”.
At a court hearing yesterday to extend his remand until the end of the week, his lawyer requested an independent medical examination of his injuries.
Sikh Federation UK chairman Bhai Amrik Singh accused the Foreign Office and British High Commission of “looking the other way”.
But last night, the Foreign Office said they take allegations of torture “very seriously”.
A spokesman added: “Our staff have requested consular access so we can be assured of his welfare.”