David Cameron probes Indian chiefs on held crew.
David Cameron is in secret talks to secure the release of six Brits held on gun-running charges in India.
The Sunday Post can disclose the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary William Hague have held detailed discussions with Indian officials over securing the release of the British crew members of the MV Seaman Guard Ohio.
The men were among a crew of 35 on the American ship that was detained by Indian authorities in October amid claims they were carrying guns illegally.
All six Brits have now been released on bail from the Indian jails where they were held. However, they are banned from leaving the country.
The diplomatic talks to get them home were revealed in a letter between MP Hugo Swire, the Minister for State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Lord Maginnis of Drumglass.
The Northern Irish peer had written to the Government after he read about Scots sailor Billy Irving’s jail ordeal in this newspaper.
In the letter Mr Swire says: “Consular officials in India remain in regular contact with all the British men in Chennai. Our staff have visited them on 17 occasions since their detention began.
“The Prime Minister has personally raised it with Indian Ministers, as has the Foreign Secretary and senior officials.”
Billy’s dad Jim has welcomed the news. He said: “We as a family are delighted that other people who are in a public position are sufficiently concerned with the plight of the men to at least make approaches to those who should be dealing with it.
“We are so grateful they’re out of prison on bail and have some normality in their lives. But it’s easy to forget the fact they’re still under the control of the Indian government.
“Billy left Glasgow in June 2013 for a two-month contract, and 11 months later he is stuck in India through no fault of his own.”
Relatives of the six Brits had previously delivered a 100,000-strong petition to Downing Street, urging the UK Government to do more to help the men. Supporters had demanded the Prime Minister intervened.
As well as Billy Irving, Nick Dunn, from Ashington, Northumberland, Ray Tindall from Chester, Paul Towers, from Yorkshire, John Armstrong from Wigton, Cumbria, and Nicholas Simpson, from Catterick, North Yorkshire, are all stuck in India.
The six security staff were working for US private maritime company AdvanFort providing anti-piracy protection when their ship was detained.
According to the men, Indian authorities claim the vessel entered their waters illegally with weapons on board, despite AdvanFort apparently insisting the ship had the correct papers.
Lord Maginnis, a former MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, said: “We can only welcome any Government involvement that speeds their return to the UK.”
A spokeswoman for Number 10 said: “While we are unable to demand the release of British nationals, or interfere in another countris’ legal processes, we continue to make very clear our interest in this case.”
Report by Gordon Blackstock and Graham McKendry
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