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8 former Indian Navy personnel sentenced to death in Doha espionage case
It is pertinent to note that there are over seven lakh Indian citizens in Qatar.
Representative Image / Image: Unsplash
The Court of First Instance of Qatar, on Thursday, handed down the death penalty to eight former Indian Navy personnel. All eight men had been employed by a company in Doha and were accused of espionage. Notably, all of them had been in custody since August 2022 and their case went to trial in March this year.
Those sentenced are Capt Navtej Singh Gill, Capt Birendra Kumar Verma, Capt Saurabh Vasisht, Cdr Amit Nagpal, Cdr Purnendu Tiwari, Cdr Sugunakar Pakala, Cdr Sanjeev Gupta, and Sailor Ragesh.
After the sentencing, the Indian Government expressed being "deeply shocked" and asserted that they are exploring all legal options. The Ministry of External Affairs stated, "We attach high importance to this case and have been following it closely. We will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance." India also mentioned that it would take up the matter with Qatari authorities.
It is pertinent to note that there are over seven lakh Indian citizens in Qatar who play a significant role in the Middle Eastern country's economy. Both India and Qatar share a steady relationship. However, Doha court's verdict could have a deep impact on their bilateral ties.
"This verdict could very adversely affect relations between the two countries. The Indian government has been following the case closely, but it would need to be taken up at the highest level to ensure their lives are saved," said former Indian Ambassador to Qatar, Deepa Gopalan."
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