Family and campaigners of missing Briton Surjit Kaur Athwal, have welcomed Jack Straw's commitment to now raise Surjit's case directly at a senior ministerial level with the Indian government.

Surjit Kaur Atwal BBC

Jack Straw gave this crucial long sought assurance at a meeting on 6th November 2003. He met with Surjit's brother, Jagdeesh Singh, and campaigners from Slough Race Equality Council, Justice for Surjit, Southall Black Sisters and John McDonnell MP (Chair, Parliamentary Panjab Group).

Jagdeesh Singh (Co-ordinator of Justice for Surjit) said this was a crucial breakthrough and his family had been waiting upon this commitment for the last five years, following Surjit's sinister disappearance in Panjab (India) in December 1998. The meeting with Straw enabled a "positive and engaged discussion on the issues of prolonged inaction on Surjit's case in contrast with other British cases", and the important wider subject of how and why certain British cases were selected for senior ministerial action and others like Surjit's were not.

Issues around the Foreign Office having no transparent procedures for acting on individual cases and no ethnic monitoring in regard to it's public service functions to white, asian and black Britons; were also keenly discussed. Jagdeesh felt buoyant and relieved after the meeting, saying that: "Jack Straw's commitment now removed a 5 year blockage on Surjit's case. His promise to press the highest levels of the Indian government for a fresh investigation through the Central Bureau of Investigation (India), is a great relief. It is a positive movement forward. We will, as a family and through the Justice for Surjit campaign, support Jack Straw's official efforts. We are glad that he has now recognized Surjit's case and accorded it the equal importance and intervention that it has deserved from the start."

Jagdeesh Singh BBC

The meeting with Jack Straw followed after mounting public and parliamentary concern that the Foreign Minister should meet to discuss this critically important British Panjabi case, which has been in the public profile for the last 4 years. Surjit's MP, John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington & Chair of Commons Panjab Group), and Sarah Ludford MEP have led a sustained campaign of letters and questions to the British Foreign Office. They called for a meeting with the senior British Foreign Minister, in common with other cases like Lucy Blackman and Ian Stillman. A parliamentary motion tabled by John McDonnell MP in June 2003, attracted support from 41 MPs. Motion 1364 called for direct intervention by Jack Straw, and a fresh investigation by India's Central Bureau of Investigation (India's equivalent of US FBI).

Commission for Racial Equality joins inquiries

The Commission for Racial Equality (London) has signaled its interest in Surjit's case following recent representations from Slough Race Equality Council. The Commission has expressed its active interest in the wider issues of race equality in Foreign Office public functions that Surjit's case has powerfully highlighted. In a communication to Slough Race Equality Council, from Farzana Hakim, advisor to Trevor Phillips (Chair, Commission for Race Equality), the CRE has said it will be writing to Jack Straw about the issues of 'differential treatment' as a first step and subsequently look at "further action".

Surjit's case has the same landmark importance as the well-known Stephen Lawrence case. "It has opened up the urgent subject of the practices and decision-making in one of the most senior and wide-ranging organs of the British government, and prompted the need for a comprehensive scrutiny of its race equality impact", said Singh. The Slough Race Equality Council and Justice for Surjit campaigners have welcomed this important first step by the Commission. They hope it will be followed by an active and wide-ranging engagement of the subject.

Maghar Singh was our grandfather (mine and Surjit's). He was the last in a consecutive line of three generations who served in British military operations around the globe. The role of our grandfathers, is a relevant point, certainly, for us as a family. It shows our lengthy commitment and service to Britain and the British government, from 1848 to 1945. Between them, the three grandfathers served in the Northwest Frontier, Middle East and France. This included both world wars. The following is an extract from a letter of commendation given to Bassan Singh, upon his retirement in 1880:

"The officer commanding takes this opportunity of placing on record, the high sense he entertains of the zeal and intelligence always displayed by Subedar Bassan Singh during his long service of 32 1/2 years with the 1st Sikh Infantry...His honesty of purpose and his strict impartiality, in the Command of his Company, have been most marked and the Commanding Officer feels sure that in saying goodbye to Bassan Singh, all ranks, both British and native will feel that the Regiment sustains a real loss and will unite with us in wishing the Subedar a long life..." Regimental Order, 30th April 1880, Kohat (North West Frontier), Lieutenant Colonel H G P Rice, 1st Sikh Infantry

The three grandfathers:

· Bassan Singh (Great great grandfather) - 1848 to 1860, in 1st Sikh Infantry

· Bufsun Singh (Great grandfather) - 1870-1900 circa, in 1st Sikh Infantry

· Maghar Singh (Grandfather) - 1910 - 1945 circa, in Central India Horse

Surjit is the grand-daughter of these loyal servants of Britain. The Dhillon family has felt profoundly betrayed and abandoned over the last five years of the British government's inaction, against the background of the above enduring service and contribution to Britain as soldiers and as conscientious residents (post migration in 1960s).

We believe it will make a good wholesome story to cover the above military feature - generations of service; and give a brief history of the Dhillon family in Coventry and England (post late 1960s migration). The Dhillon family moved to England in the late 1960s, as migrants from Panjab. Initially living in west London for a few years, they moved to Coventry in 1971. From then on they have lived in Coventry. A family of five children, Surjit was brought up in Coventry, together with the other four children.

Timeline of Surjit's case: 1998 - 2003

· 3rd December 1998: Surjit's leaves (with mother-in-law) on two week visit to Panjab, from Heathrow Airport (London). Due to return on 18th December 1998.

· 18th December 1998: Mother-in-law returns without Surjit. Dhillon family in Coventry immediately begin inquiries with all British airports and many airlines to find out about Surjit. No information available.

· 19th December 1998: Surjit's brother, Jagdeesh Singh, goes to the in-law family in Hayes, west London; to talk to them about Surjit's puzzling and worrying 'disappearance'.

· 20th December 1998: Dhillon family contacts Bob Ainsworth MP to seek assistance. He communicates information to British Foreign Office, London.

· 21st December 1998: Jagdeesh Singh (brother) contacts Metropolitan Police about Surjit's mysterious and suspicious disappearance. Metropolitan Police inquiries follow.

· February 1999: Surjit's husband divorces from Surjit, telling the courts she has 'deserted'.

· March 1999: Surjit's father goes to Panjab (India) to press for police inquiry into Surjit's disappearance. Contentious and limited Indian police investigation ensues. Father makes two further visits to Panjab to push Indian police investigation. Indian police prosecute 2 suspects, but results in acquittals.

· May 2000 : Metropolitan Police arrest mother-in-law and husband on 'suspicion of conspiracy to murder'. Subject to 24 hour questioning, and released without charge. Metropolitan Police issue a £10,000 reward for information.

· August 2000: Dhillon family meet with British Foreign Office representatives to discuss case, and urge positive action by British Foreign Minister.

· September 2000: British High Commission (New Delhi) writes letter of concern on 'lack of progress' in Indian police investigation, to Ministry of External Affairs (India). Metropolitan Police sends two officers to Panjab to investigate.

· January 2001 : Dhillon family members meet with Barones Patricia Scotland (Junior Foreign Office Minister) to discuss case. Dhillon family raise ongoing concerns about British government's lack of action and double-standards approach on Surjit's case.

· December 2002: 3,000 National public petition handed into 10 Downing Street, urging British Prime Minister to give Surjit's case serious and equal attention. Public candle-light vigil held outside 10 Downing Street, marking 4th anniversary of Surjit's disappearance.

· January 2003: British High Commission (New Delhi) writes letter to Ministry of External Affairs (India), asking for an investigation into Surjit's case by the Central Bureau of Investigation (India).

· April 2003: Surjit's brother's wife (Paramjeet Kaur) goes on fact-finding mission to Panjab. Visits the village where Surjit was last seen alive. Distributes leaflets to local residents about £10,000 reward for information.

· May 2003: BBC documentary broadcast on Surjit's case.

· June 2003: John McDonnell MP (Hayes & Harlington) initiates parliamentary motion calling for Jack Straw's direct intervention. Motion signed by 36 MPs over coming months.

· July 2003: Jagdeesh Singh (brother) meets with Baroness Symons (Junior Foreign Office Minister) to discuss case. Jagdeesh urges positive intervention by British government and stresses need for senior ministerial action by British Foreign Minister. Reiterates long running call for meeting with Jack Straw, Senior British Foreign Minister.

· September 2003: Jack Straw agrees to meet with Dhillon family to discuss Surjit's case.

· 6th November 2003: Jack Straw meets with Jagdeesh Singh and others. Jack Straw makes committment to pursue Surjit's case hereon at senior Ministerial level, and communicate directly with Indian Prime Minsiter and Indian Foreign Minister on the case. He will seek investigation through Central Bureau of Investigation (India).

Courtesy: Jagdeesh Singh, UK