Family of two Leicester men jailed in India hope they will soon be free

By This is Leicestershire | Posted: November 09, 2009

The family of two men jailed in India are hoping charges against them will soon be dropped and they will be allowed to return home.

Amarjit Sohal and his 19-year-old son, Talvinder, from Evington, Leicester, are among family members accused of assaulting a wedding hall owner in the Punjab in October.

They have now been in prison for more than a month, following what the family said was a complete misunderstanding.

In the next few days it is hoped all charges against the pair will finally be dropped and they will be free to fly home.

Daughter of Amarjit and sister of Talvinder, Aman Sohal, 26, said: “It looks like the charges are going to be dropped.

“The solicitors are just getting the paperwork together.

“I think (MP) Keith Vaz’s presence really helped.

“I hope this is the light at the end of the tunnel but I will only believe it when they are safely home.”

The two men made a brief appearance in court last week when they were remanded back into custody in the district of Hoshiarpor.

Days before that Leicester East MP Keith Vaz met with Indian ministers and police officials to try to secure their release.

Last nightMr Vaz said: “I’m extremely pleased this case is to be resolved. The family should be commended for all they have done.

“I have spoken again to officials in the Punjab and informed them if this matter is not resolved speedily I will return to India.

“I have informed the family that as my birthday is two days after Talvinder’s on November 24, I hope we will be able to celebrate it jointly in Leicester.”

Sital Singh Gill is general secretary of the Indian Workers Association, which is supporting the family. It held a meeting about the situation on Friday.

He said: “We will carry on with our campaign until they are released without charge back to their family. We are asking for people to support us.”

Around 300 people attended the meeting, during which the association agreed to hold demonstrations at the Clock Tower, in Leicester city centre, between 11am and 1pm every Saturday.

They will also protest outside the Indian High Commission building in Birmingham from 3pm to 5pm on Thursdays.

More than 2,500 people have signed a petition demanding the men’s release.

Nine members of the family group, including the groom and his mother, from London, and other relatives from Norway and America, were arrested on October 3. Three women have since been released on bail.