8 Indian Navy officials sentenced to death in a Muslim country over spying charges
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A court in Qatar has issued a death sentence for eight former Indian Navy officials, as revealed in a statement by the Indian government on Thursday.
These former Navy officials, namely 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, had been apprehended by Qatari intelligence services in Doha on August 30, 2022, and subsequent reports indicated that they were being tried on charges related to espionage.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed deep astonishment at the court's verdict and conveyed that they are eagerly awaiting further information regarding the judgment.
The MEA acknowledged that they possess initial knowledge about the case, which involves eight Indian employees of the Al Dahra company in Qatar. In response to the death penalty verdict, the MEA is actively exploring legal avenues and maintaining contact with the detainees' families and legal representation.
Furthermore, the MEA emphasized the significance of this case and affirmed their commitment to offering consular and legal assistance to those affected. They have intentions to engage in discussions with Qatari authorities regarding the verdict.
The MEA underscored the confidential nature of the proceedings in this case and refrained from making further comments at this time.
