BANGKOK, Thailand—Jagtar Singh Tara, the alleged assassin of ex-Punjab CM Beant “Singh” will challenge Thai Court’s order to extradite him to India. The US based rights group “Sikhs For Justice” (SFJ) has retained Thai attorneys specializing in extradition cases to represent Tara before the court.
A Top Thai defense attorney filed his appearance on January 13 before Thai Criminal Court on behalf of Tara.
After Tara was arrested, a Thai court on January 6, ordered his extradition on the request of Indian authorities for his alleged role in August 1995 bombing.
A team of Thai attorneys On January 12 along with SFJ’s legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun met with Jagtar Singh Tara in Bangkok where he is being held in a high security prison. Thai extradition experts and US based rights group plan to challenge Tara’s extradition to India on the grounds that Thailand is signatory to UN Convention against Torture which prohibits extradition of an individual to a country where he will be subjected to torture.
Jagtar Singh Tara in his message conveyed through SFJ legal advisor stated that “Beant who was responsible for genocide of Sikhs in Punjab is still considered hero by the Indian state” “He is ready to challenge the Indian judicial system which is
always unjust, unfair and biased against Sikhs” added Tara.
According to Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor to SFJ, “Tara’s extradition to India will be in violation of UN Convention because if extradited he will possibly face death sentence in India. We will submit documentary evidence to Thai court proving ongoing torture on Sikh detainees in India”, added Pannun.
Beant “Singh” who was assassinated in August 1995 bombing was responsible for torture, disappearances and extra judicial killing of over 100,000 Sikhs during his tenure as Chief Minister of Punjab.
