Sikh man jailed for 5 years on kidnapping charges

A 50-year-old Sikh ringleader of a gang, who kidnapped a woman in Britain and fled to India, has been sentenced by a UK court to five years in jail after he was extradited.
Kalvinder Singh Uppal had fled to India after he was linked to the abduction and sexual exploitation of the woman in the Highfields area of Leicester in East Midlands of England four years ago.
The victim had been brought from India to the UK on the understanding that she would be working as a dancer in the entertainment industry, 'Leicester Mercury' reported.
But when she arrived in the UK, she was made to offer sexual services to strangers in return for money. In July 2010, she was kidnapped at knifepoint from her house.

She escaped from the gang when they dropped her at Birmingham Airport with the intention of taking her back to India.
Seven men were later convicted of involvement in the kidnap, but police always believed Uppal was the ringleader.

The Leicestershire Police worked with the Indian authorities and international law enforcement bodies to secure the man's extradition to the UK late last year.
He appeared at Leicester Crown Court last week, when he was jailed for five years.
Detective Inspector Tim Lindley, from Leicestershire Police who led the team which brought Uppal back to this country thanked the Indian authorities for their help in the case.

He said, "The victim was threatened with sexual violence and threatened with death. She is now getting on with her life, but she is still wary when she is in public, four years on"
"He was undoubtedly the lynchpin and he enjoyed the control he had over his victim. We do not allow people to evade justice, no matter where they run to. I would like to thank the Indian authorities for their cooperation, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Serious Organised Crime Agency/National Crime Agency," the inspector said.
"The seven men, who were jailed in separate hearings in 2010 and 2011, received jail sentences of between 18 months and 42 months", he added.