Victims or Criminals

BBC Asian Network, 15th February 2010

Sanjiv Buttoo investigates if Some British Sikh's are being wrongly arrested and detained when travelling to India.

It's been more than 25 years since sectarian violence exploded onto the streets of Punjab and Delhi - but the bitterness and recriminations haven't stopped and they're still affecting the lives of British Asians.

One National organisation The British Sikh Federation estimate that more than 100 British Sikhs may have been detained in recent years. We discover how some of them returning to India claim they're being singled out, arrested and even tortured by the Police who accuse them of being involved in the violence a quarter of a century ago.

Gurnam Singh from Scunthorpe was arrested after returning to India thirteen years ago was convicted of terrorism. He claims he's innocent but is now being refused entry back into the UK. Balbir Singh Bains from Southall says he was targetted simply because he 'looked religious'. He alleges he was tortured and spent three years in jail before his case was thrown out of court due to lack of evidence, he's now lodged a complaint against the Indian authorities.

Are these British Sikh men Victims or Criminals?

Producer: Perminder Khatkar.

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