Ex-Brit soldiers in Indian jails on piracy charges seek UK govt's help for release

Former British soldiers' families, who are languishing in Indian jails for piracy operations, have urged the UK government to intervene to secure their safe return.

The families claimed that their relatives have been imprisoned unlawfully.

The claims came from families of six Britons, who were among those 35 crew members of the MV Seaman Guard Ohio, operated by a private US firm specializing in maritime intelligence operations for shipping, who have been held in Chennai since 18 October on suspicion of illegally carrying arms and ammunition, the Independent reports.

However, the company has demanded their release, claiming that any weapons on board the vessel were used to safeguard commercial ships in the Indian Ocean.

Last month, a spokesman for the coastal security group said that the vessel didn't have documents of authorization to carry weapons, and a second case has been registered against the crew under the Essential Commodities Act, for allegedly buying 1,500 litres of diesel illegally.