homeindia News‘Will make all efforts to secure their release’: Jaishankar assures families of Indians in death row in Qatar
‘Will make all efforts to secure their release’: Jaishankar assures families of Indians in death row in Qatar
The eight ex-Navy officers, who worked with a private company named Al Dahra, were arrested by the Qatari intelligence agency in August 2022 on charges of spying.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met the family members of the eight former Indian Navy officers, who have been sentenced to death in Qatar, and assured them of the government’s efforts to secure their release. While assuring the families to extend full support, Jaishankar said that the government ‘attaches the highest importance to the case’.
“Met this morning with the families of the 8 Indians detained in Qatar. Stressed that the Government attaches the highest importance to the case. Fully share the concerns and pain of the families. Underlined that the Government will continue to make all efforts to secure their release. Will coordinate closely with the families in that regard,” Jaishankar tweeted.
Met this morning with the families of the 8 Indians detained in Qatar.
Stressed that Government attaches the highest importance to the case. Fully share the concerns and pain of the families.Underlined that Government will continue to make all efforts to secure their release.…— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 30, 2023
The eight ex-Indian Navy personnel were sentenced to death last week by a court in Qatar on alleged charges of spying for Israel, news agency Reuters reported. The former Indian Navy officers, who worked with a private company named Al Dahra, were arrested by the Qatari intelligence agency in August 2022. The company is engaged in providing training and related services to Qatar's armed forces.
Meanwhile, following the verdict by a Qatari court last week, the Ministry of External Affairs expressed shock and said that India will contest the verdict in higher court. An official statement released by MEA after the verdict said, “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 eight veteran Indian Navy personnel who are facing death sentences in Qatar are Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Amit Nagpal, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta and Sailor Ragesh.
According to reports, these former Navy personnel have been accused of espionage-related to a submarine programme on behalf of Israel. Qatar authorities on the other hand have also claimed that they have electronic evidence related to the same matter.
After their arrest in August last year, the bail pleas of the accused officers have been dismissed several times by the lower court. However, consular access to the former Navy officers was granted by Qatari authorities and the Indian Embassy in Doha was actively engaged in the efforts to secure their release.
The first trial to free the eight Indian nationals took place in March this year. Later in August, the solitary confinement of the eight ex-Navy officers ended and they were put together with two men in each cell.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
First Published: Oct 30, 2023 1:56 PM IST
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