Brother of Briton Jailed in India Questions UK Border Police Over Repeated Stops

London — The brother of a British citizen currently imprisoned in India has accused UK border authorities of unjustly targeting him with repeated checks and questioning when travelling in and out of the country. He says the treatment has left him feeling harassed and raises concerns about how families of detainees abroad are being handled by UK officials.

The man, who has publicly campaigned for his brother’s release, revealed that each time he has returned from meetings with lawyers and human rights groups, he has been stopped by border police for what they describe as “routine security checks.” He insists, however, that the frequency and nature of the stops suggest deliberate targeting. “I want to know why I am being treated like a suspect when all I am doing is fighting for justice for my brother,” he said in a statement.

His brother, a British national, was arrested in India several years ago on charges that supporters and legal experts say were based on flimsy evidence. Human rights organisations, along with MPs from across the political spectrum, have raised concerns over the fairness of the trial and the conditions in which he is being held.

The family has long pressed the UK government to increase diplomatic efforts to secure his release, but campaigners argue that the response has been inconsistent and at times lukewarm. The brother now fears that the extra scrutiny he faces at the UK border may be linked to his activism. “This feels like intimidation. Instead of supporting families like ours, the authorities are making things even harder,” he said.

Lawyers representing the family have written to the Home Office seeking clarification on the legal basis for the repeated checks. Civil liberties groups, including Liberty, have also expressed concern, warning that such practices risk undermining trust in law enforcement and may discourage families from speaking out about cases of injustice.

A spokesperson for the Home Office declined to comment on individual cases but said that all border checks are carried out in line with national security guidelines. However, opposition MPs have demanded greater transparency, calling for a parliamentary inquiry into whether political activism is being improperly monitored by border forces.

The issue comes at a time when the UK government is under growing pressure to demonstrate it is doing more for citizens imprisoned abroad. For the family of the jailed Briton in India, the additional burden of being repeatedly stopped at the border has only deepened their sense of isolation and frustration. “We already feel abandoned,” the brother said. “Now it seems like we’re being punished for seeking justice.”