Family of Dumbarton's Jagtar Singh Johal demand urgent action from UK Government after he is formally charged

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The family of Jagtar Singh Johal is demanding the UK Government urgently seek his release after he was formally charged with conspiracy to murder in India.The 35-year-old has also been accused of being a member of a terrorist gang, with relatives fearing he could be sentenced to death if convicted.Human rights group Reprieve has said he has been imprisoned on a false confession with “no physical evidence” linking him to the charge.The Dumbarton man has been in custody for almost five years after his family say he was snatched from the street by plain-clothes officers – weeks after his wedding.Almost five years on, Jagtar, a former pupil of Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School, has not stood trial in any of the cases against him and alleges he was beaten, electrocuted and tortured while in initial custody.Brother Gurpreet Singh Johal told the Lennox Herald the situation is “absurd” and says Jagtar needs the UK Government to demand his release more than ever.He said: “He has been charged with conspiracy to murder and being a member of a terrorist gang.“There is no corroboration and the burden of proof is so low.“It’s taken over four-and-a-half years to have one charge put against him which says a lot.“The charge not depart from the fact that Jagtar has been arbitrarily detained.“There is no legal basis for his detention.”The family have led a tireless campaign for Jagtar’s release.Gurpreet added: “I was expecting the UK Government to have got him out by now.

It’s important there are no further delays.“I have said to Foreign Secretary Liz Truss that these false allegations will lead to false charges which could then lead to a false conviction and death.”In May, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled