Eight Indians sentenced to death for espionage in Qatar

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs is studying the legal aspects !

Credits : The Spectator

Doha (Qatar) – Eight retired Indian Navy personnel, detained by Qatari authorities for over a year on undisclosed espionage charges, have now been sentenced to  death. The officers were working for Al Dahra company in Qatar when they were arrested. The Qatari Government has alleged that the officers were spying for Israel. However, the officers have denied the allegations – (All Retired) Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vashishth, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunkar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta and Seaman Ragesh.

We are deeply shocked by the verdict of 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. 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. Due to the confidential nature of proceedings of this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture,” the MEA statement read.

(Credits : ANI News)

Qatari authorities revealed that the eight former naval officers were spying on Qatar’s secret submarine program for Israel. The CEO of a private defense firm and the head of Qatar’s international military operations were also arrested in the same case.