8 Former Indian Navy Personnel Face Death Penalty for Spying in Qatar

Eight former personnel of the Indian Navy are jailed in Qatar’s Doha since August last year. They face stringent charges and it is feared that they may get the death penalty. Their next court hearing is on May 3.

Along with them two Qataris, including former Oman Air Force officer Khamis al-Ajmi, who is also the CEO of Dahra Global, the company which had employed them for a super-secret project to build Italian technology-based midget submarines with stealth characteristics are also arrested for same charge, reported The Tribune. Qatar’s Head of International Military Operations, Maj Gen Tariq Khalid Al Obaidly, is the other Qatari national to be charged.

The eight former Indian Navy men are charged with spying for Israel. “We are engaged with the Qatari authorities. Our embassy in Doha continues to remain in touch with the families. The next day of the hearing is in early May. We are trying to see what can be done before that in connection with that hearing,” MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said when queried about the developments in this regard, as reported by The Tribune.

The Indians facing espionage charges in Qatar include 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.

They are kept in solitary confinement in Doha since August last year.