:dateline: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.
