Indo-Canadian activist Jaggi Singh awarded USD 15,000 as damages for unlawful arrest

TORONTO: An Indo-Canadian activist has been awarded USD 15,000 in damages by a court, for his unlawful arrest eight years ago while taking part in an International Women's Day rally.

Jaggi Singh, a well-known Montreal activist, has filed a lawsuit against the two police officers who had arrested him for five days for taking part in an International Women's Day rally in March 2007.

Quebec Superior Court Judge Micheline Perrault ruled that Singh's rights were violated and the two police officers must pay him "the sum of USD 15,000 in exemplary damages."

The officers testified in court that the crowd was hostile and yelled out insults.

However, the court ruled that no threats had been made to the police by the crowd, CBS Online reported.