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Bleach cut up with British government

Rifat Jawaid in Calcutta

Peter Bleach, a British national and prime accused in the Purulia arms drop case, has criticised the United Kingdom government for maintaining, what he termed, an apathetic attitude in seeking his release from an Indian jail. Bleach's outbursts against his own government came in a conversation with his counsel R K Khanna inside the Presidency Jail on Monday afternoon.

Elaborating on his conversation with his client, Khanna told rediff.com, " While Bleach congratulated Russian President (Vladimir) Putin for having secured the release of his citizens, he appeared critical about his own government. He said Putin was a man of his words something the Brits were not used to. He expressed his disappointment accusing the British government of being oblivious towards his release."

Bleach, according to Khanna, felt that the British government should have taken up his case concentrating on the human rights angle, as the Russians did. He added that the powers-that-be in the UK should have taken the cue from Putin.

Khanna too appreciated Putin's concern for the Latvians who has been serving jail sentences since their arrest in Bombay five years ago. He requested the president of India to remit the sentence of his client as well. "I fail to understand why Bleach is being detained," Khanna added.

He appeared optimistic about a 'more appropriate and expeditious' disposal of Bleach's case in the wake of the amnesty granted to the Latvians.

London's Sunday Telegraph newspaper had reported that Britain was considering persuading the Indian government to release Bleach. However, a spokesman of the British High Commission said in New Delhi on Monday that Britain would do no such thing.

Meanwhile, the Latvians are expected to leave India on Monday night. Their counsel Srenik Singhvi told rediff.com that the Latvians were under intense medication after their release on Saturday. The Russian consulate was not allowing them to meet anybody.

Sources in the consulate office in Calcutta said that Igor Moskvitin had suffered two heart attacks while serving the jail sentence and Antimenko Eugueni's wife had died back home unable to cope up with poverty.

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