Huge boost for ‘Chennai Six’ forces heroes languishing in Indian jail as Narendra Modi personally vows to look into case after talks with Theresa May
He promised our PM once the appeal process had run its course, both Governments should discuss the next steps
THE ‘CHENNAI SIX’ forces heroes languishing in an Indian jail were today given a huge boost – as the country’s PM personally vowed to look into their case.
In face-to-face talks with Theresa May, Narendra Modi said he was aware the fate of ex-soldiers was a “concern” in the UK.
And he promised her that once the appeal process had run its course, both Governments should discuss what the next steps should be.
A UK official source told the Sun: “Prime Minister Modi said once the appeal process completes we should both look if there is more that could be done.
“Theresa May specifically lodged the case with him and said she would be tracking what happens.”
The six were sentenced to five years in prison under false charges of illegally importing weapons.
They were judged to have entered Indian waters in 2013 when working on a US ship as anti-piracy guards.
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Sources claimed Mrs May made a point of raising the matter during crunch talks that were otherwise dominated by immigration and the fight against terror.
Labour’s Chris Matheson, one of the wrongly jailed ex-soldiers’ MPs, said the commitment was “encouraging”.
But he added: “We must keep the pressure up.
“Maybe it would be easier now for the Indian Government to just deport the men – and be done with the case.”
Mr Matheson added: “I am also really grateful to The Sun for its campaign to help get these ex-servicemen home. We are not giving up until the lads are back home.”
The Sun first revealed the plight of the six – rotting in India’s notorious Chennai jail – earlier this year.
Families of the ex-soldiers made a live television appeal begging Theresa May to help free them.
The relatives appeared on BBC 2’s Victoria Derbyshire show to plead with the PM to secure their release.
Lisa Dunn, sister of Nick Dunn, 30 of Ashington, Northumberland, said: “We beg Theresa May not to miss the opportunity to raise this as the highest level.”
Theresa May and other key Ministers had previously failed to raise the matter during meetings or talks with Indian officials.
Mr Matheson on Sunday insisted Britain should refuse to sign any new trade deal with Indian until the six heroes are freed.
The Labour man is MP for and a personal friend of 41-year-old Ray Tindall, an ex-Army sniper, another of the six.
The others held are John Armstrong, 29 from Cumbria, Nicholas Simpson, 46, of Catterick, North Yorks, Paul Towers, 53, of Pocklington, East Yorks, and Billy Irving, 36, from Oban.