Latest news with #Jagtar
Glasgow Times
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Foreign Secretary urged to help Dumbarton man detained in India
Labour MP Douglas McAllister raised the case of Jagtar Singh Johal, who has been imprisoned in India for nearly eight years, during a meeting with Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Monday, July 21. The meeting took place ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to the UK on July 23 and 24, during which the UK-India trade deal is expected to be signed. READ NEXT: Coke and cannabis found in black bags during 7.30am raid on Glasgow home READ NEXT: Thug with 36 previous convictions almost killed man with '4 to 5 inches' knife Mr Johal, a British national from Dumbarton, was acquitted of all charges by the Moga District Court in Punjab on March 4 after prosecutors failed to present credible evidence over seven years. Despite the acquittal and the court's rejection of the allegations against him, he remains in detention. Mr McAllister stressed the importance of raising the case at the highest level, describing the Indian Prime Minister's visit as a "unique diplomatic opportunity" to resolve a matter that risks undermining UK-India relations. He said: "After almost eight years of arbitrary detention, torture, and now a court acquittal, Jagtar's continued imprisonment serves no legitimate purpose and damages our bilateral relationship. "The timing of the Indian Prime Minister's visit to the UK provides an exceptional opportunity to resolve this case diplomatically and allow both governments to move forward with a clean slate. "I am very grateful to hear that this will receive the Prime Minister's personal attention, and that he will raise my constituent Jagtar's case with the Indian Prime Minister this week, and I wish to thank the Foreign Secretary David Lammy for this continued assistance to help secure Jagtar's release." (Image: Supplied) According to Mr McAllister, Mr Lammy assured him that Prime Minister Keir Starmer would raise Mr Johal's detention directly with Prime Minister Modi during their meeting on Thursday, July 24. Mr McAllister said: "I was very pleased with the outcome of my meeting with the Foreign Secretary. "He gave me his personal assurance that Keir Starmer will raise Jagtar Singh Johal's case with Prime Minister Modi on Thursday. "The Foreign Secretary has also promised to meet with me again when parliament returns immediately after the summer recess."
Daily Record
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Keir Starmer to quiz Indian Prime Minister on case of jailed Dumbarton man Jagtar Singh Johal
West Dunbartonshire MP Douglas McAllister says the Foreign Secretary assured him that Keir Starmer will raise Jagtar Singh Johal's case with Prime Minister Modi. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to raise the case of jailed Dumbarton man Jagtar Singh Johal when he meets with the Indian Prime Minister today (Thursday). It comes after West Dunbartonshire's MP has met with the Foreign Secretary regarding the case ahead of the Indian Prime Minister's visit. Jagtar, known to family and friends as Jaggi, has been arbitrarily detained in an Indian prison since his wedding in Punjab in November 2017. Jaggi's family say that he was arrested and bundled into an unmarked car. Mr Singh claims to have been tortured, including with electric shocks, and may face the death penalty because of his campaigning for Sikh rights. West Dunbartonshire MP Douglas McAllister met with the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, on Monday evening in advance of the visit of Indian Prime Minister Modi to the UK this week. The visit is being held in relation to the UK-India trade deal signing. Mr McAllister was keen to raise the ongoing case. He advised that the visit 'presents a unique diplomatic opportunity to resolve this long-standing issue that risks undermining UK-India relations'. On March 4 this year, Jagtar was acquitted of all charges by the Moga District Court in Punjab, after Indian prosecutors failed to present any credible evidence against him despite having seven years to do so. The court specifically found witnesses were not believable and rejected all allegations. However, he did not walk free despite being acquitted because he is facing eight other duplicate cases, all based on the same torture 'confession'. The Foreign Secretary gave assurances that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer would raise Jagtar's case with Prime Minister Modi when they meet today. Ahead of the meeting, Jagtar's brother, Gurpreet, who has long campaigned for his release, said: 'I'm putting my faith in the Prime Minister to get this done and bring Jagtar home. 'He was rightly critical of the previous government's failure, and he recognised that Jagtar is arbitrarily detained. His Foreign Secretary has told me personally, twice, that resolving the case is a priority for this government. That means it should be high on the agenda when the Prime Ministers meet. 'Over the last eight years, I've grown very tired of fine words and weak excuses for a lack of action, while my brother grows old in prison. The time is now – it would be devastating if the Prime Minister lets this golden opportunity slip away.' West Dunbartonshire MP Mr McAllister said: 'I was very pleased with the outcome of my meeting with the Foreign Secretary. He gave me his personal assurance that Keir Starmer will raise Jagtar Singh Johal's case with Prime Minister Modi on Thursday. 'The Foreign Secretary has also promised to meet with me again when Parliament returns immediately after the summer recess.' He added: 'After almost eight years of arbitrarily detention, torture, and now a court acquittal, Jagtar's continued imprisonment serves no legitimate purpose and damages our bilateral relationship. 'The timing of the Indian Prime Minister's visit to the UK, provides an exceptional opportunity to resolve this case diplomatically, and allow both Governments to move forward with a clean slate. 'I'm very grateful to hear that this will receive the Prime Minister's personal attention, and that he will raise my constituent Jagtar's case with the Indian Prime Minister this week, and I wish to thank the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, for this continued assistance to help secure Jagtar's release.' Reprieve, a nonprofit organisation of international lawyers and investigators who fight for the victims of extreme human rights abuses, have also taken on the campaign to release Jagtar. Deputy Executive Director of Reprieve Dan Dolan said: 'Jagtar has been found not guilty of the allegations against him and it should be a priority for Keir Starmer to secure his release and return to Britain. 'Trying him again for the same crime, on the same evidence, is prohibited in India's constitution and in international law. This is a clear cut case of double jeopardy and it's in everyone's interests to see it resolved. 'This week's talks are a rare chance to make progress at the very highest level.'
The Herald Scotland
24-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Starmer meeting Indian PM ‘golden' chance to help detained Briton
Mr Johal, a Sikh activist from Dumbarton near Glasgow, was arrested while in India for his wedding, and has been held ever since – despite having been cleared of one of the cases against him earlier this year. But he still faces charges at a federal level, which his supporters – who claim an initial confession he made was as a result of torture – fear could take years to come to a conclusion. However, campaigners at Reprieve, who have been working to free Mr Johal, say the talks between the UK and Indian leaders could be a 'rare chance to make progress' in the case. The Indian prime minister is visiting London to sign a landmark, free trade agreement between his country and the UK. And Gurpreet Singh Johal, said: 'I'm putting my faith in the Prime Minister to get this done and bring Jagtar home.' He said Sir Keir had 'recognised that Jagtar is arbitrarily detained' and that Foreign Secretary David Lammy had twice told him that 'resolving the case is a priority for this Government'. Leaving for UK, a country with which our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has achieved significant momentum in the last few years. I look forward to my talks with PM Keir Starmer and my meeting with His Majesty King Charles III. @Keir_Starmer @RoyalFamily… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 23, 2025 Mr Johal said: 'That means it should be high on the agenda when the prime ministers meet. 'Over the last eight years, I've grown very tired of fine words and weak excuses for a lack of action, while my brother grows old in prison. 'The time is now – it would be devastating if the Prime Minister lets this golden opportunity slip away.' Dan Dolan, deputy executive director of Reprieve, said returning Mr Johal to the UK should be a priority for Sir Keir when he has talks with his Indian counterpart on Thursday. Mr Dolan said: 'Jagtar has been found not guilty of the allegations against him, and it should be a priority for Keir Starmer to secure his release and return to Britain. 'Trying him again for the same crime, on the same evidence, is prohibited in India's constitution and in international law. 'This is a clear cut case of double jeopardy and it is in everyone's interests to see it resolved. 'This week's talks are a rare chance to make progress at the very highest level.'
Indian Express
02-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
‘We wanted to have tea… Army personnel told us to drive away due to heavy shelling'
It's a mission that will be etched in the mind and heart of Jagtar Singh forever. Jagtar, a driver in his early 40s, was an integral part of the PGIMER's dedicated transport team that rendered medical support on ground zero during Operation Sindoor. Amid the recent war-like situation between India and Pakistan, a special humanitarian mission was carried out in the crisis-hit region of Jammu and Kashmir by the PGIMER, Chandigarh. Traversing tough and unknown terrains and keeping tight schedules to ensure timely evacuation of the injured, getting those in need to hospitals, while shelling… Jagtar recalled how he drove from Chandigarh to Rajouri on the night of May 8, along with some more team members, carrying essential medical equipment for logistical coordination and supply chain continuity. 'We were then required to go to Poonch, which is more than 7 hours' drive, and we didn't know the way. The roads were narrow, and there was a complete blackout; we could not even switch on the headlights, and there was a complete atmosphere of fear. We drove through shelling, with a local guiding us through. But there was no thought, just the call of duty, and we began the journey,' Jagtar said. With hardly any civilians and only hospital staff and Army personnel on the way, the driver remembered witnessing damaged buildings, cars, and a lot of tension. 'We would get calls from places where there were injured people, and we would drive to pick them up and take them to the hospitals. Many people had died too, and had to be shifted, with no time to waste, and the locals supporting us. Then the hospital got a frantic call from almost the zero point near the border, that a pregnant woman had started labour pains, and needed to be rushed to the local government hospital, and I remember that it was a very tense moment, and two lives had to be saved. We had the technician with us in the car, and all the needed medicines, bandages etc, and we finally managed to reach the woman, who, before we could get her to the hospital, delivered in the vehicle, with the medical staff making sure that the mother and the baby girl were both safe, and then got to the hospital for further care. We had to drive fast and safely, and it was almost 60 km.' The moment was both special and precious for Jagtar, as he had a seven-year-old daughter, who was very tense that he was going to be away in such a situation and just kept asking him when he would be back. The team was there for more than 15 days, and had to go to various places to help the injured with dressings and first aid. 'There was so much to learn from people, the selfless attitude of Army personnel, who would instruct us to be quiet, not switch on any lights. As there was no network, we had to depend on our instincts to guide us through this challenge,' said Jagtar. The driver also praised all the senior officials of the PGIMER, who were 'constantly connected' through video calls, assuring the team that they were not alone.' 'There were many tense moments, so many shells fell near our car. One evening, we wanted to have tea and stopped on the road, and suddenly, the Army personnel told us to drive away due to heavy shelling. We were there when the ceasefire was announced, and suddenly the tension melted, and people started coming back. 'I started driving in 2004, and this was my first such experience. It was a proud moment when our team was honoured, and I got a medal from PGIMER Director Vivek Lal with words of appreciation. My family and my daughter were also so happy that we could save so many people,' smiled Jagtar as he reflected on the 15-day humanitarian mission.
The Herald Scotland
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
‘Moment of truth' for Lammy on Scot detained in India, says brother
He still faces charges at a federal level, which his supporters – who claim an initial confession was as a result of torture – fear could take years to come to a conclusion. On Thursday, supporters say, India's Supreme Court failed to issue a ruling on a petition for bail. Mr Johal's brother Gurpreet Singh Johal will meet with David Lammy next week to discuss the case, as more than 100 MPs and peers signed a letter to the Foreign Secretary calling for 'all diplomatic efforts' to be used to ensure his return home. Speaking ahead of the meeting, Gurpreet said: 'I'm glad the Foreign Secretary is meeting me again, as it shows he recognises that this is a make-or-break moment for Jagtar. 'The case against my brother has been tested in court and rejected, but the Indian authorities will keep him in prison for decades if the UK Government doesn't act to secure his release. 'We've seen that today at the Supreme Court – just the latest in an endless series of delays. This is the moment of truth for David Lammy: will he live up to his promises, or will he fail Jagtar like the last six foreign secretaries did?' The Foreign Secretary will meet with Mr Johal's family next week (Stefan Rousseau/PA) The letter, spearheaded by Mr Johal's local MP Douglas McAllister, was signed by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and senior Tory MP David Davis, and urged the Foreign Secretary to intervene. 'The UK Government, following Jagtar's acquittal, should be using all diplomatic efforts at this critical stage to ensure Jagtar Singh Johal is released on bail as soon as possible, pending the discontinuation of the other outstanding cases,' the letter said. 'The time has now come to act quickly and decisively. With the acquittal, we now have an opportunity to hold urgent diplomatic discussions with your Indian counterparts. 'Taking urgent steps now during this window of opportunity will reassure all those lobbying us on Jagtar's behalf that we are doing all we can to secure his immediate release and return to the UK, and therefore reunited with his family as soon as possible.' Mr McAllister added: 'The failure to grant bail to my constituent, Jagtar Singh Johal, serves to demonstrate the need for greater urgency by the Foreign Secretary and the UK Government to secure my constituent's immediate release and his return to his family in West Dunbartonshire. 'I will be advising the Foreign Secretary when we meet next week of the strength of feeling across both houses that now is the time to act.' Mr Johal wrote about alleged human rights abuses of Sikhs by the Indian government while living in the UK and was accused of financially supporting terror attacks in Punjab, which he denies. An FCDO spokesperson said: 'We welcome the recent progress in the case. 'The UK Government remains committed to working for faster progress on Jagtar's case, and the FCDO continue to work to support Mr Johal and his family.'
