Jagtar Singh Johal freed on bail after nine years in Indian prison

Jagtar Singh Johal, the Sikh activist from Dumbarton detained in India since 2017, has been freed on bail after nearly nine years in prison without conviction, the BBC reported on Thursday.

The 39-year-old was arrested in Punjab in November 2017 in connection with alleged terror offences, weeks after his wedding. Indian authorities have accused him of involvement in a series of targeted killings linked to the banned Khalistan Liberation Force, allegations he denies.

The Delhi High Court granted him bail on 18 September in seven cases brought under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, overturning earlier refusals. His brother Gurpreet said at the time: “Jaggi will be released from prison after completing the relevant paperwork. Time to bring him home.”

Under the bail conditions, Mr Johal must surrender his passport, post a personal bond of 500,000 rupees, use only one phone and is barred from speaking to the media about the case.

Mr Johal was acquitted last year in a case in which he was accused of financially supporting a terror group, but still faces charges in the remaining cases. A group of UN experts has said his imprisonment was an example of arbitrary detention, describing it as a form of psychological torture. Scottish First Minister John Swinney has welcomed the development as “significant and positive”.

Sources

• BBC News — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxr50yln55rgo
• PA Media — https://pa.media/blogs/pa-editors-picks/jagtar-singh-johal-granted-bail-in-india-family-of-detained-scot-says/
• The Times of India — https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/scottish-sikh-gets-bail-in-7-nia-cases-after-8-years-behind-bars/articleshow/134343731.cms
• ETV Bharat — https://www.etvbharat.com/en/bharat/jagtar-singh-johal-accused-of-funding-the-khalistan-liberation-force-granted-bail-in-seven-uapa-cases-enn26091802288
• The Tribune (India) — https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/uscirf-welcomes-bail-for-jagtar-singh-johal-seeks-release-of-other-religious-freedom-prisoners/
• WION — https://www.wionews.com/india-news/uk-in-touch-with-family-after-delhi-court-grants-bail-to-jagtar-singh-johal-1789821069294/amp
• The Wire — https://thewire.in/law/briton-jagtar-johal-bail-delhi-hc-nine-years-after-arrest
• Hostage Aid Worldwide (quoting BBC reporting) — https://hostageaid.org/jagtar-singh-johal-granted-bail-nine-years-after-being-detained-in-india/