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NATION NOVEMBER 03, 2023 | The Indian Eye 6

Training project or spy mission?

Death sentence to eight ex-officers

of Indian Navy baffles Govt.

India recently suspended visa operations to Canada and called for a reduction in Canadian

diplomats in India, calling for ‘parity’, owing to the ongoing diplomatic row

OUR BUREAU

Doha/New Delhi
n a shocking development, the
Court of First instance of Qatar
Ihas passed a verdict of death pen-
alty for the eight former naval officers
who were detained in Doha.
The Ministry of External Affairs
(MEA) said it is “deeply shocked”
by the verdict and now awaits the
detailed judgement. “We have initial
information that the Court of First
Instance of Qatar has today passed a
judgement in the case involving 8 In-
dian employees of Al Dahra compa-
ny,” the MEA said in an official press
release. “We are deeply shocked by
the verdict of death penalty and are
awaiting the detailed judgement. We
are in touch with the family mem-
bers and the legal team, and we are
exploring all legal options,” it added.
“We attach high importance to
this case, and have been following it
closely. We will continue to extend all All eight Indians veterans worked for a private firm, Dahra Global Technologies, and Consultancy Services, which provided training and other
consular and legal assistance. We will
also take up the verdict with Qatari services for Qatar’s armed forces (File/Representative photo)
authorities,” the MEA release said.
The eight Indian nationals have mander Sugunakar Pakala, Com- private firm, Dahra Global Tech- by Qatar’s intelligence agency on
been imprisoned in Qatar since mander Amit Nagpal, Command- nologies, and Consultancy Services, August 30, 2022. Neither the Qatari
October 2022 and were accused er Sanjeev Gupta, Captain Navtej which provided training and other authorities nor New Delhi made the
of allegedly spying on a submarine Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar services for Qatar’s armed forces. charges against the Indian nationals
programme. New Delhi had been Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht and The company is owned by a retired public yet. According to reports, the
granted consular access to the eight Sailor Ragesh Gopakumar. squadron leader of the Royal Oman eight men were allegedly arrested for
Indians and had been working to se- All of the former Navy officers Air Force, Khamis al-Ajmi. Ajmi too espionage. The charges were filed
cure their release. had a distinguished service record of was arrested along with the Indians against the eight Indian Navy veter-
The Indian nationals had their up to 20 years in the Indian Navy and last year but was released in Novem- ans on March 25 and they are tried
first trial in late March. had held important positions includ- ber 2022. under Qatari law.
Meetu Bhargava, who is the sis- ing that of instructors in the force. In Sources said some of the Indi- Their bail petitions had been re-
ter of one the officers detained and 2019, Commander Purnendu Tiwari ans on death row were working on jected several times and the verdict
lives in Gwalior, sought help from was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya a highly sensitive project -- Italian against them was pronounced on
the Indian government to bring her Samman, the highest honor con- technology-based midget subma- Thursday by the Court of First In-
brother back. In a post on X on June ferred on overseas Indians. In a post rines with stealth characteristics. In stance in Qatar.
8 she had appealed to Prime Minister at the time, the Indian Embassy in May, Al Dahra Global closed its op- It is learnt that the families of
Narendra Modi to intervene. Doha had said the award was given erations in Doha and all those work- the former Indian Navy personnel
The Indian Navy veterans, who to Commander Tiwari for enhancing ing there (primarily Indians) have had filed a mercy plea to the Emir of
were arrested in August 2022, are India’s image abroad. since returned home. Qatar. However, there is no confir-
Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Com- All eight Indians worked for a The eight men were arrested mation of it.

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