File photograph by Niels Holck. | Picture credit score: AP
A Danish court docket on Thursday (29 August 2024) rejected India’s extradition request for a Danish nationwide accused of being concerned in an arms smuggling case 29 years in the past, going in opposition to Denmark’s high tax authority which had given the inexperienced gentle to ship Niels Holck overseas.
Holck has admitted to launching assault rifles, rocket launchers and missiles from a cargo aircraft in Purulia, West Bengal, in 1995. Indian police mentioned they have been meant for a revolutionary group within the nation.
The Hillerod District Court docket mentioned that regardless of “extra diplomatic assurances” given by India, “there’s a actual threat” that Holck may face torture or different inhuman remedy in India.
Holck, 62, mentioned he feared for his life if extradited.
“I want to be held accountable earlier than a decide as a result of I believe it’s a justified emergency, however I might relatively not die from it,” Holck informed Danish radio DR on Thursday morning earlier than the sentence was introduced.
Whereas a British citizen and 5 Latvians have been arrested by Indian authorities after they dropped their weapons, Holck, previously referred to as Niels Christian Nielsen, escaped.
India first requested Denmark to extradite Holck in 2002. The federal government agreed, however two Danish courts refused his extradition, arguing that he can be prone to torture or different inhuman remedy in India. This led to strained diplomatic relations between the international locations.
In June 2023, Denmark re-examined a 2016 Indian extradition request and mentioned the necessities of extradition legislation had been met. (AP) NPK NPK
