UK Sikh Council opposes extradition request for Punjab militant

 Manish Sirhindi

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Patiala, February 6

The UK Sikh Council has invoked treaties on the functioning of the European Union and the Dublin Regulations, duly ratified by all EU member countries, including the UK and Portugal, and the UN’s 1951 Refugee Convention to thwart the extradition of terrorist Paramjeet Singh Pamma, who was arrested and detained by the Portugal’s Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) on December 17 last year.

 On the other hand, Pamma, who was arrested after a red corner notice was issued against him in 2012 by the Interpol, has filed an application with the international police organisation for the withdrawal of the notice on the grounds that under the existing rules an individual granted asylum could not be subject to a red corner notice from the state from which he was granted asylum.

The council has written to the Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, contending that the treaties provided protection to Pamma from the “refoulement to the country of persecution”.

 Pamma had reached the UK in 1999 and in 2000, he was granted asylum and an “indefinite leave to remain” after thorough investigation by the UK counter terrorism unit with assistance from India security agencies. However, during the investigation, no charges were bought up against him, claimed the council. He has subsequently settled with his wife and four children there. He works as a truck driver.

  Following the submission of an extradition request by India recently, there is now a short period during which the Portuguese Minister for Justice will consider the request and determine its suitability before February 15, which is the next date for hearing in the case.

Gurmel Singh, secretary general of the council, said the representations to fellow EU member state had been made so that Pamma’s extradition request was not allowed and he returned to the UK.

Pamma is allegedly a key conspirator of the 2010 twin bomb blasts in Patiala and Ambala and the mastermind of the killing of Rulda Singh, head of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat. These cases were registered against him almost a decade after he escaped to the UK.