British gunrunner hoping for release from Indian jail

CALCUTTA, India (AFP) Jun 27, 2003
A British pilot serving a life sentence in India for gunrunning said Friday he was keeping his fingers crossed that he will be released as his case has been taken up at the "highest levels".

The Indian Express newspaper had reported that the British government's request for Peter Bleach's release had been successful after the issue had been raised at a meeting in London between Indian Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

"I should not comment on the issue as the talks were held between Mr Advani and Mr Blair," Bleach told reporters in Calcutta's High Court Friday.

"I trust Mr Advani. But I am not hopeful of an early release as these things take time ... My case has been taken to the highest levels."

The newspaper had said Bleach's release would require clemency from India's ceremonial president and the government was still working out the modalities in consultation with the law ministry.

"In a way I am hoping and also trying not to get my hopes up as there was a similar situation in 2000, but I remained in jail even as the Latvians were granted a presidential pardon," Bleach added.

Bleach and five Latvian pilots were charged with waging a war against India after they dropped crates of assault rifles and anti-tank missiles to militants in Purulia in West Bengal on December 17, 1995.

A city court sentenced Bleach and the Russians to life imprisonment in February, 2000.

The pilots were released from jail in July of that year after India's president remitted their sentences.

Bleach, 51, appealed to the Calcutta High Court in September last year saying he was being discriminated against as he was being detained in jail despite his repeated appeals to the Indian government.

In his petition, Bleach said the five Latvians who had piloted the aircraft carrying arms and ammunition were released from jail on the grounds of their Russian citizenship.

"I am in jail because I am a British national," he had told reporters.

Bleach also resorted to a hunger strike to press his demand for the same treatment the other pilots had enjoyed.

He ended his fast after British officials visited him to assure him the British government would open fresh talks with India for his release.

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