The wife of a Scots man imprisoned without trial in India has pleaded with the UK government to secure his release on the fourth anniversary of his incarceration.
Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, has been locked up since November 2017, after travelling there for his wedding, over alleged involvement in the killings of right-wing Hindu leaders and the funding of a now-proscribed group.
The Sikh Federation (UK) says Mr Singh Johal was abducted by Indian plain clothes police officers while shopping with his wife Gurpreet Kaur.
Jagtar, known as Jaggi, denies the allegations and claims he was tortured into signing a blank confession.
His wife Gurpreet Kaur Johal has now pleaded with Boris Johnson to intervene in the case as she confessed the ordeal of his detention still gives her nightmares.
In an open letter to the Prime Minister, she said: "Today marks four years since that terrifying day when the police snatched and kidnapped Jaggi from my arms.
"I still have nightmares of that day and the subsequent torture of Jaggi.
"The UK government must listen and act to secure the release and return of my husband after 4 years of incarceration.
"We were hopeful all charges would be dropped against Jagtar at the last hearing in October 2021, but the case was adjourned once again until January 2022 as the Indian authorities were unable to produce any evidence in court.
"All I want and pray for is that my husband comes back home and we can start our life together, but I worry for his and my mental and physical health due to all this suffering."
Mrs Kaur Johal also asked for a face-to-face meeting with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, adding: "I need Liz Truss as the Foreign Secretary and as a wife to look me in the eye and tell me when I will be reunited with my husband.
"I am suffering in silence and finding it difficult to continue. I want her to meet with me so she can hear about my pain."
The heartbreaking plea comes after desperate protestors urged Boris Johnson to use COP26 as opportunity to demand Jagtar's freedom as around 1,000 Sikhs from across the UK protested in Glasgow on Saturday.
Campaigners urged the Prime Minister to have talks with Indian leader Narendra Modi while the two meet up for the summit.
SNP MP Martin Docherty-Hughes also raised the issue in Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, one day before the fourth year anniversary of Jagtar's detention.
Speaking in parliament he said: “The Prime Minister is very much aware of my constituent Jagtar Singh Johal, who was abducted by plainclothes officers while shopping with his new wife in the city of Jolanda, Punjab on the 4th of November.
“The intervening years, Mr Speaker, have seen allegations of torture overlooked and ostensibly strong words from his government about the case overshadowed by excitement over a trade deal with the Republic of India.
“Therefore, Mr Speaker, as we approach the fourth anniversary of Jagtar’s arrest tomorrow, with no charges having been brought in the case by the government of India, will this government be able to grant the smallest of favours to Jagtar’s wife and his family in Dumbarton and declare his detention an arbitrary one?"
In response to the statement, Boris Johnson said: “Mr Speaker, I thank him for the campaign that he’s been running for Jagtar Singh for a long time.
"And what I would say to him is that the closeness of our relationship with India in no way diminishes our willingness to raise that case with the government of India.
“And indeed, my Right Honourable friend, the Foreign Secretary raised it only the last time she was in India.”
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