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Young to meet Advani, Singh
on Bleach release

Asked when Bleach, who is serving a life sentence, was likely to be released, British Deputy High Commissioner John Mitchiner, who met him in jail on Saturday, said in December last year, British Foreign Minister Robin Cook made a formal request to Singh for the release of Bleach as he was sentenced with some Lativians, who had since been released.

"There has not even been an acknowledgement of the letter, let alone a reply... we are disappointed. We can't understand this attitude. Our high commissioner has sought an appointment with Advani and Singh for talks. We are hopeful that there will be a response," he said.

The Latvians were released on July 22 last year following a commutation of their life sentences by President K R Narayanan, after an appeal by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

While stating that the British government was 'a little bit impatient' at the Indian attitude on the question of Bleach's release, Mitchiner, however, ruled out intervention of Prime Minister Tony Blair in securing Bleach's release. "It is not normal for a British prime minister to personally intervene in such matters."

Mitchiner denied that Blair's proposed visit to India was put on hold due to the stalemate over Bleach's release. "It has to do with the coming elections back home," he said.

Mitchiner said he was not aware of reports that Bleach had been detained on charges other than those of the Latvians.

"The proceedings of the court make it clear that the judge had the discretion of giving a separate verdict in case of Bleach. But he chose not to. Now if the Latvians can be released, we don't see why Bleach can't be," he said.

Describing his meeting with Bleach as 'regular,' he said that during the nearly 120 minute visit, the two discussed the case. "I found him in good spirits. He is also in good health now, though earlier he has had bouts of illness. He is very keen on his release."

On whether Bleach would face punishment back home if his jail term in India was commuted, Mitchiner said he was not aware of any British law under which that would be possible.

"Peter Bleach has already served five-and-a-half years in the Presidency Jail. We think he has been punished sufficiently."

Bleach and the five Latvians were sentenced to life imprisonment for conspiring to wage war against the state on February 2 last year by the City Civil and Sessions 4th Bench Judge P K Biswas for dropping a huge cache of arms from an Antonov-26 aircraft in Jhalda, Ghatanga, Belamu and Maramu villages in West Bengal's Purulia district on the night of December 17, 1995.

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