The sister of a Canadian man imprisoned in India says her brother's life is in danger and every day could be his last.
Saul Itzhayek, a Montreal businessman who was arrested by police in India 10 months ago, is in self-imposed lockdown over fears for his life.
Itzhayek, 42, narrowly missed being killed by a bombing at his prison last weekend, said Sylvia Itzhayek.
"We are absolutely beside ourselves especially with the recent bombings in the jail," Itzhayek told CTV's Canada AM from Montreal.
"My brother has basically now put himself in lockdown. He is sitting in his cell and refuses to leave because of fear of reprisals from other gangsters who may throw other bombs and the situation is absolutely frightening to us."
One person was killed when the bombs exploded Saturday at the Motihari prison in northeast India. Indian media reports say the blasts targeted a local gangster who was in the same jail as Itzhayek.
Itzhayek said her brother narrowly avoided the explosions and ensuing gunfire. Now she fears reprisals by rival groups in the prison will degenerate into further violence.
"He was missed because he was coming back from court and was 10 minutes late, so the fear is very much there and he refuses to leave his cell."
The Canadian government has lodged a petition to the Indian government on the Canadian's behalf, and supporters in Montreal who held a protest today, called for his freedom.
"Because of recent events we implore our government to be more persistent in their efforts," a demonstrator said, seemingly linking Itzhayek's case to that of imprisoned Canadian Brenda Martin. "God forbid something happens to Saul."
Itzhayek said her brother was travelling on business in Nepal last spring when he sent his driver into India to pick up a wire transfer. The driver was arrested trying to cross back into India, and police found a bag belonging to Itzhayek in the vehicle.
Indian police then got in touch with Itzhayek at his Nepal hotel, and asked him to come collect his bag, promising safe passage despite the fact his visa for that country had expired.
That commitment wasn't honoured, she said.
"He was immediately arrested and the final charge was entering India with an expired visa, which is really entrapment."
Itzhayek has been sentenced to three years in prison for the alleged violation. The Bihar High Court has given the go-ahead for an appeal hearing in his case, but that hasn't happened yet.
Canadian diplomats stationed in New Delhi are expected to attend the appeal hearing when it happens.
Technically, the Canadian government can ask India for a deportation, pardon, prisoner exchange or suspended sentence for Itzhayek.
Itzhayek has a wife and two children in Canada.
Like in the case of Brenda , a Canadian woman jailed in Mexico for more than two years, Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, have both raised the case with their Indian counterparts.
