The News Freedom
New Delhi, February 12
In a significant diplomatic development, the External Affairs Ministry announced on Monday that the Government of India has welcomed the release of eight Indian nationals employed by the Dahra Global company, who had been detained in Qatar. Out of the group, seven have been successfully repatriated to India. “We appreciate the decision by the Amir of the State of Qatar to enable the release and homecoming of these nationals,” the MEA stated in a press release.
These individuals, serving with a private firm in Qatar, initially faced death sentences in October 2023 on unspecified charges. India vehemently denied any wrongdoing and engaged in extensive diplomatic efforts to secure their release.
In December of the previous year, Qatar’s appeals court commuted the death sentences of the eight former Indian navy officers detained since August 2022. The release of these veterans is seen as a result of the government’s serious efforts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani held their first in-person meeting since the October sentencing of the eight former Indian navy officers. This occurred in Doha on the sidelines of the COP28 climate summit in Dubai on December 1, according to sources familiar with the matter. Although details of the discussion remain confidential, sources indicated that the leaders focused on strengthening bilateral ties and the welfare of the Indian community in Qatar.
Key highlights
- August 2022: Qatari authorities detained the officers, accused of espionage related to Qatar’s acquisition of advanced submarines.
- October , 2023: The Qatari court initially sentenced the officers to death, though specific charges remained undisclosed. The officers, identified in media reports as Captains Navtej Singh Gill and Saurabh Vasisht, Commanders Purenendu Tiwari, Birendra Kumar Verma, Sugunakar Pakala, Sanjeev Gupta, and Amit Nagpal, and Sailor Ragesh, reportedly worked for Dahra Global, a company training Qatari naval personnel.
- November 9, 2023: MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi confirmed an appeal was filed against the initial death sentence, noting the court document’s confidentiality and ongoing legal and consular support.
- October 30, 2023: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with families of the detained officers.