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the first dance for jagdar singh jahal
on his wedding day in 2017.
the 33 year old from dumbarton in
scotland had traveled to india for the
celebrations
days later while out shopping with his
new wife he was taken away by police
in the state of punjab he's been in
detention
ever since seen here at a court hearing
jagdar singh jahal is accused of
conspiracy to murder
indian authorities allege he was
involved in a series of killings
of right-wing hindu leaders officials
claim he's a member of a separatist
organization
they describe as a terrorist gang they
say mr jahal paid three thousand pounds
to the group
to help fund the crimes jagdar singh
johal denies the allegations
his family say he's a peaceful activist
who's written about human rights
violations against sikhs
i believe he's innocent and he will be
proven innocent
through the course of her trial starts
what's your message
to the uk government he's been subject
to torture and mistreatment
and you have failed him please bring my
brother back home so he can continue
and start his life with his wife
the family say jagdar singh jahal wrote
this letter detailing
allegations of torture it claims he was
stripped and beaten
given electric shocks and that his legs
were pulled apart
each time he was questioned the bbc has
been unable to independently verify
these claims
which the authorities deny
claims he was tortured into signing a
confession letter
made to record this video leaked to
indian media
his lawyer told me the authorities have
yet to provide him with any evidence
linking mr jahal to the crimes
he fears his clients being framed
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i am very worried our immediate concern
is
that we get a fair trial which proceeds
quickly
until then he's languishing in jail
he's one of thousands of people being
held in prisons across india
without conviction some for many years
the human rights charity reprieve is
concerned that some of the charges he's
awaiting trial for here
carry the death penalty as the maximum
punishment but experts stress that
executions in india
are extremely rare reprieve has asked
the foreign secretary to call
for mr jahal's immediate release the
foreign office told the bbc
that dominic raab did raise the case
with his indian counterpart
during his trip to india in december
this is the most recent time jagdar
singh jahan was seen at court
british officials also say they're in
regular contact with prison staff
and his family about his well-being but
his brother remains concerned
in august last year he was joined by
dozens who protested outside downing
street
jagdal singh jahan's case has attracted
international attention
his supporters say they won't give up
until he's back home
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