Jagtar Singh Johal

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: India

Religion or Belief: Sikh

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: November/4/2017

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Human Rights Work for Religious Communities Religious Belief Reporting on Religious Freedom Conditions or Documenting Religious Freedom Violations

Nature of Charges: Arms Trafficking & Illicit Use of Weapons Criminal Premeditation & Conspiracy Murder & Attempted Murder Terrorism

Jagtar Singh Johal

Extra Bio Info:

Jagtar Singh Johal is detained for his religious belief and religious freedom advocacy.

In November 2017, over a dozen plainclothes officers arrested Jagtar Johal, a Sikh activist and reporter, after his wedding in Jalandhar. Prior to his arrest, Johal was a contributor to a website that documented persecution of Sikhs in India. Authorities accused him of killing several Hindu leaders and politicians and, after obtaining confessions through torture, charged him with conspiracy, murder, terrorist acts, and using arms (Secs. 120B, 302 IPC; Sec. 16 UAPA; Sec. 27 Arms Act). Authorities confined him in Tihar Jail.

During detention, police tortured Johal into confession by using electric shocks, forcing his limbs into painful positions, and depriving him of sleep. Authorities also mistreated him by holding him incommunicado and denying him adequate legal counsel.

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