Ex-Indian Navy Personnel Sentenced to Death in Qatar; MEA Explores Legal Option

A court in Qatar handed down death sentences to eight former Indian Navy personnel who had been detained in the country for over a year.

In response to the verdict, the Indian government expressed its profound dismay and indicated its intention to explore all available legal avenues.

Here is the breakdown of the development-:

Verdict and Detainees: A court in Qatar has sentenced eight former Indian Navy personnel to death. These individuals had been held in Qatar for over a year.

Indian Government’s Reaction: The Indian government expressed deep shock in response to the death penalty verdict. They are actively exploring all available legal options.

Statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA): The MEA released an official statement expressing their shock at the verdict and their intention to await the detailed judgment. They are in contact with the detainees’ family members and legal team and are actively considering various legal options.

Importance of the Case: The MEA stressed the high importance of this case and their continued monitoring of the situation. They pledged to provide consular and legal assistance to the detainees and to engage with Qatari authorities regarding the verdict.

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Confidential Nature of Proceedings: The MEA acknowledged the confidential nature of the legal proceedings and chose not to comment further on the matter at this time.

Detention Background: In August 2022, Qatar detained these eight former Indian Navy officers on suspicion of espionage on behalf of Israel while they were working for a company in Qatar.

The detainees include Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, and Sailor Ragesh. They were apprehended by Qatar’s intelligence agency in Doha on August 30, 2022.

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