A court in Qatar has, as of Thursday, handed down death sentences to a group of eight former Indian Navy personnel who had been detained in the country for an extended period exceeding one year. In response to this verdict, the Indian government has expressed profound shock and has declared that it is actively exploring all available legal options in this matter.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued an official statement expressing its deep dismay and outlined its ongoing efforts in light of this grave development. The MEA stated, "We are deeply shocked by the verdict of the death penalty and are awaiting the detailed judgment. We are in touch with the family members and the legal team, and we are exploring all legal options." Furthermore, it emphasized the significance attached to this case and affirmed that close and consistent monitoring of the situation was being carried out. The statement also underscored the government's commitment to providing comprehensive consular and legal support to those affected and its intention to raise the issue with Qatari authorities.
Nevertheless, it is important to note that the MEA, in its official statement, acknowledged the confidential nature of the ongoing legal proceedings and therefore refrained from making further comments at this juncture.
In August 2022, Qatar apprehended a group of eight former Indian Navy officers who were suspected of engaging in espionage activities on behalf of Israel while they were employed by a firm based in Qatar. The detained individuals 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 Rajesh. They were taken into custody by Qatar's intelligence agency in Doha on August 30, 2022.
Over the course of their detention, the bail requests of these Navy veterans were repeatedly rejected by Qatari authorities. The issuance of the death penalty was announced by a Court of First Instance in Qatar earlier on the same day.
Reports from various media outlets have suggested that these former Navy officers were facing allegations related to espionage activities associated with a submarine program conducted on behalf of Israel. Additionally, Qatari authorities have claimed to possess electronic evidence relevant to the allegations.
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