Beaten, handcuffed and blindfolded... Then Blaise was taken to jail and beaten again, say campaigners.

Byline: JOANNA DESIRA

SUPPORTERS of a Teesside student who was forcibly removed to the Congo say he has told them he has been tortured.

Asylum seeker Blaise Kamba, 28, was living and studying in Stockton when he was taken to a detention centre and was told he would be returned to Congo.

He had been the carer for sisters Leitisha, 19, and Jeanine, 16, who were told they can stay is the UK, although their future is uncertain.

They came to Teesside in 2006 after fleeing the Congo where Blaise was arrested and his life placed in danger for his political views.

Last week the Evening Gazette told how Blaise's supporters feared he had been arrested and tortured on his arrival at Kinhasa airport.

Frank Cook MP for Stockton North, and Catherine Ramos, of Justice First, said their fears had been confirmed in a telephone conversation they held with Blaise.

He told them he had been taken to the secret police headquarters Kin Maziere after his arrest.

Catherine said: "When he left the airport he was arrested by plainclothed agents. He tried to resist but was beaten, handcuffed and blindfolded. He was taken to a prison he later knew to be Kin Maziere and severely beaten.

"He was told he was arrested because he was from London, from the UK, and against the regime and had to be punished. He was left handcuffed and blindfolded until he was released around midnight.

"Release had been negotiated by a friend, who told him he was in danger and must leave the country.

"Blaise is not safe, is in great pain and physically unwell and extremely anxious about his sisters." But a spokesman for the UK Borders Agency said the allegations of torture by Blaise and other asylum seekers returned to Congo had been investigated and were unfounded.

Mr Cook said: "Myself, Kath Sainsbury (also of Justice First) and Catherine Ramos spoke with him. He has been liberated from the high-security stockade.

"He has been badly beaten and we've asked him, if he can, to get photographs of his injuries before the healing process. He is still in the Congo, but he is very much under threat.

"We have been in contact with Amnesty International and we have high hopes they will take up his case, as they have others." A UK Border Agency spokesman said: "We are aware of these allegations and our investigations have found no substance to them..

"We will investigate any allegation of harm or ill-treatment against returning immigration offenders, and our returns policy is kept constantly under review. We will continue to monitor developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo." Students at Stockton Riverside College have been collecting petitions in support of the Kamba family.

Blaise studied English as a Second Language at the college, Leitisha had been taking a course in hairdressing there, and Jeanine was following a course in childcare Sujinder Sangha, principal and chief executive at the college said: "Leitisha and Jeanine are fully integrated members of the student community at Stockton Riverside College.

"We believe that to send young people, with no family network to support them, back to a country that does not respect human rights is unacceptable and unduly harsh.

"Stockton Riverside College continues to support the family and backs the petition to raise the profile of the Kamba family plight."

CAPTION(S):

TROUBLES: How we told Blaise's story, left, and Stockton North MP Frank Cook, right, who is concerned DEPORTED: Blaise Kamba, above left, and his sisters Leitisha and Jeanine, who were allowed to stay