Fears over further torture for Scot jailed without charge in India

A 30-year-old Scot who has spent more than 10 weeks in an Indian prison without charge has been secretly moved back into police custody.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took remand of Jagtar Singh Johal, who’s from Dumbarton, earlier this week.

Jagtar – who was originally in India to get married – was arrested last year by authorities in Pubjab in connection with the killings of religious leaders.

So far no charges have been brought against him.

At the start of January his police custody came to an end after two months of third-degree torture, threats, intimidation and mental blackmail.

Police had also taken the unprecedented step of releasing so-called ‘confessional’ investigation videos to the Indian media in a bid to force Jagtar to co-operate.

But in a secret move this week, the 30-year-old was taken out of judicial custody in high security Nabha Jail and presented before an Additional Sessions Judge.

Jagtar was not allowed any legal representation and the court handed him over to the NIA for the next 6 days.

Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) said: “We are deeply concerned with this latest move.

“Based on what we know, Jagtar’s life is in serious danger and the UK Government appears powerless or unwilling to act against the Indian authorities.

“The Foreign Office has been dragging its heels and given what his lawyer has shared in writing with the British Deputy High Commissioner about the NIA modus operandi in this case, they will know now is the time for the ‘extreme action’ they promised.”

It’s understood the British Deputy High Commissioner raised concerns about the police investigation videos being released to the Indian media that would prevent Jagtar getting a fair trial, in the event of being charged.

Jagtar also met his newly-wed wife for the first time in two months on 4 January after he was moved to judicial custody.