In a startling development, Qatar has handed down the death penalty to 8 former Indian naval officers, accusing them of espionage for Israel. The Indian government expresses deep shock.
In a significant and distressing development, a Qatari court has pronounced the death penalty for eight former Indian Navy personnel who have been incarcerated in the country for over a year. The eight individuals were employed by a private firm when they were apprehended by the Qatari intelligence service in Doha in August of the previous year.
The Indian ambassador in Qatar, along with his deputy, had the opportunity to meet with the detained individuals on October 1, marking a significant point in their legal proceedings. This meeting took place just ahead of their seventh hearing on October 3, after being granted consular access. Indian authorities have maintained consistent communication with the families of the arrested men throughout their ordeal.
The eight Navy veterans, who have been identified as Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Commander Purenendu Tiwari, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Amit Nagpal, and Sailor Ragesh, were employed by a defense service provider organization known as Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services. This organization, owned by a retired member of the Royal Omani Air Force, offered training and related services to Qatar’s armed forces.
The exact charges against these individuals have not been publicly disclosed by the Qatari government, creating speculation that the case might be related to national security. While the charges were reportedly mentioned during the hearings, neither the Qatari nor Indian government has officially revealed them.
Media reports have suggested that the men have been accused of spying for Israel regarding Qatar’s advanced submarines, which possess stealth capabilities making them less detectable.
These individuals endured solitary confinement for several months following their detention. The Central government of India has consistently expressed its commitment to explore legal avenues to secure the release of the detained personnel.
The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement in response to the recent verdict, expressing deep shock and emphasizing that it awaits the detailed judgment. The ministry is in contact with the families of the detained personnel and their legal team, actively exploring all legal options to address the situation. The case is of high importance to the Indian government, and it has been closely monitoring the developments. Consular and legal assistance will continue to be provided, and the Indian government intends to engage with Qatari authorities regarding the verdict.
The Qatari intelligence agency, the State Security Bureau, made the arrests, and the Indian Embassy became aware of the situation in mid-September. On September 30, the detained men were briefly allowed to communicate with their families. The first consular access was granted in October of the previous year.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, has affirmed that India has been closely following the legal proceedings in the “court of first instance.” While he acknowledged the presentation of charges during hearings, he refrained from delving into the legal aspects of the case. He expressed hope for the individuals to return to India following the court’s judgment.
