New Delhi: The RSS’s Swadeshi Jagaran Manch has written to the US ambassador protesting the killing of three Indian sailors in separate incidents between June 8 and 11 in US attacks.
The group demanded a transparent investigation and compensation for the families of the victims.
In a letter addressed to US Ambassador Sergio Gore on Monday, the RSS-affiliated organization expressed “deep pain and suffering” over the alleged unprovoked killing of three unarmed Indian sailors by the US armed forces.
“These events sent a wave of disbelief and anger among the people of India. The US administration made matters worse with an insensitive and irresponsible response, further hurting Indian sentiments, as Indians have always considered the US a great friend,” JEM co-convener Ashwani Mahajan said in the letter.
The organization called for a transparent, time-bound, and impartial investigation into the events and demanded that those responsible, whether individuals or government agencies, be held accountable.
It also called for compensation and justice for the families of the victims, guarantees against any recurrence, and adherence to international legal obligations.
“India’s suffering is profound and its resolve is steadfast: those responsible must be held accountable, and the dignity and safety of Indian seafarers must be preserved at all costs,” Mahajan said.
He added that India reserves the right to raise the matter in international forums, including the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization, in order to achieve justice for the relatives of the victims.
Mahajan claimed that the US action constitutes a serious violation of international law governing the seas, armed conflict and human rights.
He said: “At the heart of maritime governance lies the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantees freedom and safety of navigation in international waters. International law provides protection against unlawful interference by commercial vessels piloted by civilian seafarers. Attacking such vessels without legal justification represents a clear violation of internationally accepted standards.”
Mahajan said that even in situations of armed conflict, civilian lives are protected under the Geneva Conventions.
“Seafarers on board merchant ships, as non-combatants, cannot be treated as legitimate targets,” he said. “The principles of distinction, proportionality and necessity form the fundamental basis of international humanitarian law.”
According to SJM, the IMO’s Global Maritime Safety Framework obligates all states to ensure the protection of life at sea, and attacks that endanger civilian seafarers damage the foundation of international maritime cooperation.
“The killing of innocent Indian sailors is not just a bilateral issue, but a challenge to the rules-based international order. Allowing such actions would undermine the sanctity of international law and put global maritime security at risk,” Mahajan said.
He added, “The people of India are demanding an explanation from the American administration, which has always presented itself as a champion of human rights, about how it attacked a ship that had been standing motionless for several days.”
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