Scot remains in custody in India despite torture claims

Jagtar Singh Johal (right) arrives at court in India where he was sent back to police custody

Scottish Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal will remain in police custody in India despite torture claims.

The Ludhiana court magistrate rejected his lawyer's demand that he be transferred to prison.

The public prosecutor said the 30-year-old had links with Pakistani Intelligence services and was involved in the murder of a Christian pastor.

Mr Johal, from Dumbarton, told the court he was "innocent" when the judge asked him if he had anything to say.

His father Jasbir spoke to BBC Scotland from the family home in Dumbarton. He said he and his family were "heartbroken" by the situation.

"We are looking for some kind of way to know what's happening with the case," he said.

"If they have any proof, because they are talking about a lot of things, but why not show them? We are looking for a fair trial."

Mr Johal's father told BBC Scotland the family are "heartbroken"

He said he knew his son was innocent of the charges.

"We are looking for justice, as we know our son didn't do anything at all. We are looking for him to come back to the family as soon as possible.

"We feel for his wife as well as she is under a lot of stress. It's not just one family, it's four or five families who don't know what's happening. They can't speak to him."

The activist's lawyer, Jaspal Singh Manjpur, has previously accused the police of torturing his client.

Mr Manjpur said nothing incriminating had been found on Mr Johal and accused the police of "baseless allegations".

The British Deputy High Commissioner based in Chandigarh, Andrew Ayre, was present at Mr Johal's court appearance. He spoke to his father-in-law and mother-in-law.

Mr Johal's family say he was in Punjab on holiday after getting married in October

Mr Johal was arrested on 4 November in Punjab just a few weeks after getting married in India.

The Punjab police accuse him of conspiracy to murder prominent right-wing Hindu leaders.

He appeared in court on this case on 17 November, where he was sent back to police custody.

Mr Johal's father-in-law, Balwinder Singh, described what the family has been going through.

"We were relieved last week that Jaggi had been sent to prison and not into police remand," he told the BBC.

"But we then learned that the Ludhiana police came and took him into their custody."

Mr Johal is accused of the murder of a pastor in July 2017. Sultan Masih was shot dead in Salem Tabri by two unidentified motorbike-borne assailants.

The police say the pastor was walking outside his residence and talking on the phone when he was shot dead.