28 Mar 2013

Former NZ Sikh leader held on terrorism charges in India

3:43 pm on 28 March 2013

A former president of the New Zealand Sikh Society has been arrested in India on terrorism charges, which date back more than 10 years.

The Times of India says Manpreet Singh was arrested on Sunday after getting off a flight from Sydney.

The report says Mr Singh, 69, is facing charges relating to alleged seditious activity and accusations he masterminded a jail break along with other militants in a Sangrur prison.

The paper says Mr Singh was arrested after arriving at Delhi's Indira Ghandi International Airport and taken to a court hearing, at which he was remanded in custody.

Mr Singh was charged more than a decade ago under India's Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act but fled the country when he was released on bail.

He lived in New Zealand for more than 20 years.

Supreme Sikh Council president Daljit Singh says Mr Singh worked as a taxi driver in Auckland and did a good job as president of the Sikh Society, before moving to Australia.