In 2013 we started a petition after six British ex-soldiers were wrongly arrested and imprisoned without charge for straying into Indian waters without permission & carrying illegal weapons without licence by Indian authorities while working to protect merchant seaman in some of the most dangerous seas in the world.
After spending 9 months in prison and a charge finally being filed against them 3 months in, they were released on bail, and began to fight to prove their innocence, which they done successfully and all charges were dropped in July 2014 leaving them free to return home.
Unfortunately this was not the case. The Indian authorities held their passports and documents stopping them from returning home to their loved ones and denying their freedom. The Indian Q Branch police lodged an appeal to have their charges re-instated when a full trial was ordered by the Supreme Court. After a long and mentally torturing wait the trial began in September 2015 in the Magistrates court of the port where they were first arrested.
On the 11th of January 2016 our hearts sank, our brothers, husbands, Sons, and fathers had been given a Guilty verdict and sentence to 5 years rigorous imprisonment. Not one of us or the people involved could have saw this verdict coming. All the evidence to prove their innocence was submitted in court, the trial had gone in their favour from day one, and most importantly they were innocent! The devastation and anguish this has caused us, the families is huge. It has left us crushed and with little hope. We know have no communication with the men and We don’t know who or where to turn to. This is why we are asking you to sign our petition, to Free our men and end this miscarriage of justice.
We understand fully that one country cannot intervene in another’s judicial process, But when innocent men are being prosecuted for a crime they have not committed, then they should have a obligation to protect the human rights and freedom of these men and have them released and brought home. These men devoted their lives protecting others. They fought for the British government now the British government must fight for them.Read more HERE
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