Indo-Canadian activist awarded $15,000 for unlawful arrest

Toronto, August 29 

An Indo-Canadian activist has been awarded $15,000 in damages by a court for his unlawful arrest eight years ago while taking part in an International Women’s Day rally.

Jaggi Singh, a well-known Montreal activist, has filed a lawsuit against the two police officers who had arrested him for five days for taking part in an International Women’s Day rally in March 2007.

Quebec Superior Court Judge Micheline Perrault ruled that Singh’s rights were violated and the two police officers must pay him “the sum of $15,000 in exemplary damages.” The officers testified in court that the crowd was hostile and yelled out insults.

However, the court ruled that no threats had been made to the police by the crowd, CBS Online reported.

Singh, who had a previous conviction, was forbidden from being “on the scene of an event that is not peaceful” and the officers arrested him for breaching his conditions.

Singh, however, maintained that he was entitled to take part in the women’s day event because it was peaceful and filed a lawsuit against the City of Montreal and the two officers. He was seeking $25,000 for five days of illegal detention, $12,000 in moral damages and $45,000 in exemplary damages. The court ruled partially in his favour, awarding him $15,000 in damages. The City of Montreal said it may appeal the decision. — PTI