Jagtar Singh Johal, a British Sikh activist, has recently been released on bail after nearly 9 years of detention in India. This decision was made by the Delhi High Court due to the lengthy trial process and claims of his arbitrary detention.
Details of Arrest and Charges
Jagtar Singh Johal, 39, from Dalmellington, Scotland, was arrested in Punjab in 2017 right after arriving in India for his wedding. He has been accused of financing and engaging in activities for the banned group "Sikh Freedom Fighters". These charges relate to his alleged involvement in a series of targeted killings in the Ludhiana and Jalandhar areas between 2016 and 2017.
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Last year, the court acquitted him in a related case in Moga, Punjab, but the Delhi cases continued. Johal has consistently claimed his innocence, stating that he was tortured into signing false confessions. A UN working group declared his detention arbitrary in May 2022.
Court Decision and Bail Conditions
The Delhi High Court ordered Johal's conditional release considering the long duration of his detention and the slow trial process. This comes as 123 witnesses still need to be interrogated, and the case proceedings are not expected to conclude soon.
Strict conditions have been imposed on Johal's bail, including surrendering his passport, restrictions on communications and social media activities, and regular reporting to the investigating officer. The court has not made a decision regarding the nature of the main case and has allowed the prosecutor to revoke his bail if conditions are violated.
Johal's brother, Gurpreet Singh Johal, who has fought for his release for years, called the ruling "a great relief" and expressed happiness over the court's decision. He said, "I spent a long, sleepless night, and now all I can imagine is seeing Jagtar walking out of prison."
This news is seen as a significant case in the realm of human rights and the status of political prisoners in India, raising international concerns about judicial processes and human rights in the country. Human rights activists have called for more attention to Johal's situation and that of other similar prisoners.
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