New Delhi: Vishal Jood, a Harayana man given a jail sentence in Australia for assaulting Sikhs, was deported to India. Australia's Immigration & Citizenship minister tweeted that the 25-year-old was found guilty of attacking Sikhs.
According to the Times Of India report, Jood was arrested in April and had pleaded guilty to three charges, including ‘assault’, ‘occasioning actual bodily harm in the company of others', and 'armed with the intention to commit indictable offense'. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison with parole after six months.
As per Vishal Jood's claim, he was upholding the sanctity of the Indian tricolour and targeted only suspected pro-Khalistan Sikhs raising anti-India slogans in Sydney.
Vishal Jood was staying in Australia on an expired visa. His deportation was followed by a strongly worded response from the country's Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services, and Multicultural Affairs, Alex Hawke.
"I thank community leaders who have worked to build cross-community unity and resilience against attempts by a small minority to incite discord and disharmony, demonstrating the importance and benefit of our nation's strong social cohesion," the Australian minister further tweeted.
According to the link shared by Hawke, under the Migration Act, non-citizens who have committed serious crimes can be deported at the end of their jail sentence. The report also said that he was 'was rushed out of Australia on the first available flight to India'.
Support For Jood
Times Of India reports that a roadshow was organised in Karnal in his honour, after Jood reached Haryana on Sunday. He was welcomed to dhol beats, surrounded by his family, community, and friends while honouring him with garlands.
Vishal Jood who received a warm welcome on Sunday in Karnal, over the months saw a lot of support from Harayana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, BJP leader Kapil Mishra, BJP Youth wing national secretary Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, and Olympian Neeraj Chopra according to ThePrint report in early September.
CM Khattar in June asked the Australian authorities to release him.
In July, CM Khattar wrote a letter to the minister of state, ministry of external affairs, and ministry of culture Meenakshi Lekhi over Jood's release, urging her that high priority intervention to secure justice for a 'Son of Haryana' in Australia.
Khattar wrote that he had received representations from various quarters including his family who have conveyed to him that Vishal Jood got into a tussle with a group, that was raising anti-Indian slogans and even desecrating the Indian national flag and these groups have subsequently framed him on false charges.