Jaishankar meets kin of 8 Indian navy veterans given death sentence in Qatar: ‘Fully share the pain…’

Last week, India’s ministry of external affairs expressed shock after a court in Qatar gave the verdict against the officials and said it would take up the matter with Doha.

• Shubham
• 30 October, 2023

By: Shubham Ghosh

INDIAN external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Monday (30) met the families of eight former personnel of Indian Navy who have been given death sentence in Qatar for allegedly spying on Israel’s behalf.

He said New Delhi will “continue to make all efforts to secure their release”.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Jaishankar said, “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. Will coordinate closely with the families in that regard.”

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

Last week, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) expressed shock after a court in Qatar gave the verdict and said it would take up the matter with Doha. “We are deeply shocked by the verdict of 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,” it had said.

Those sentenced include Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Commodore Purnendu Tiwari, Commodore Amit Nagpal, Commodore Sugunakar Pakala, Commodore Sanjeev Gupta and Sailor Ragesh.

The men, who once commanded Indian war vessels, worked with private company Al Dahra and were arrested in August last year reportedly in an alleged case of espionage. Neither the Qatari authorities nor New Delhi made the charges against the Indian nationals public.

In its reaction to the ruling by the Qatari court, the MEA said on Thursday (26) that it is attaching “high importance” to this case and is exploring all legal options.

The charges were filed against the eight Indian navy veterans on March 25 and they were tried under Qatari law.

(With PTI inputs)