Indian Navy Officers Death Penalty: The Indians had been working for a non-public firm. (Representational)
New Delhi:
A Qatar court docket has handed the death penalty to eight former Indian Navy personnel, a verdict that was described as “deeply shocking” by India because it vowed to discover all authorized choices within the case. The eight Indians had been arrested in August final 12 months in an alleged case of espionage and have since been in solitary confinement.
India, reacting to the event, stated that it’s attaching “high importance” to this case and is exploring all authorized choices.
Who are these 8 Indians?
The Indian Navy veterans, who had been arrested in August 2022, are Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht and Sailor Ragesh Gopakumar.
All of the previous Navy officers had a distinguished service document of as much as 20 years within the Indian Navy and had held necessary positions together with that of instructors within the pressure.
In 2019, Commander Purnendu Tiwari was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, the very best honour conferred on abroad Indians. In a submit on the time, the Indian Embassy in Doha had stated the award was given to Commander Tiwari for enhancing India’s picture overseas.
What had been they doing in Qatar?
All eight Indians labored for a non-public agency, Dahra Global Technologies, and Consultancy Services, which offered coaching and different providers for Qatar’s armed forces.
The firm is owned by a retired squadron chief of the Royal Oman Air Force, Khamis al-Ajmi. Ajmi too was arrested together with the Indians final 12 months however was launched in November 2022.
Sources stated among the Indians on dying row had been engaged on a extremely delicate undertaking — Italian technology-based midget submarines with stealth traits.
In May, Al Dahra Global closed its operations in Doha and all these working there (primarily Indians) have since returned house.
Why had been they arrested?
The eight males had been arrested by Qatar’s intelligence company on August 30, 2022. Neither the Qatari authorities nor New Delhi made the costs towards the Indian nationals public but.
According to reviews, the eight males had been allegedly arrested for espionage. The prices had been filed towards the eight Indian Navy veterans on March 25 and they’re tried underneath Qatari regulation.
Their bail petitions had been rejected a number of instances and the decision towards them was pronounced on Thursday by the Court of First Instance in Qatar.
What India is doing?
Reacting to the decision, the Ministry of External Affairs stated that they’re awaiting the detailed judgement within the case and are exploring all authorized choices.
“We are deeply shocked by the verdict of the death penalty and are awaiting the detailed judgement. We are in touch with the family members and the legal team, and we are exploring all legal options,” the MEA stated in a press release.
The authorities stated it will proceed to increase all consular and authorized help to the Indians.
“We attach high importance to this case and have been following it closely. We will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also take up the verdict with Qatari authorities,” the MEA assertion stated.
It is learnt that the households of the previous Indian Navy personnel had filed a mercy plea to the Emir of Qatar. However, there isn’t any affirmation of it.