Qatar Naval veterans' release: Diplomatic victory for India

 

 

 

 

 

In what may be termed as yet another diplomatic win, India has been able to get its Navy veterans, who were on death sentence in Qatar , released by a court in Doha.

 

 

 

 

Seven of the eight Indian nationals, who faced espionage charges and capital punishment, returned to India early this (Monday) morning, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

 

 

The capital punishment was commuted to an extended prison term late last year following a series of talks and diplomatic interventions by New Delhi. The decision to release the personnel marks a crucial turn of events in a case that has garnered international attention. And it came after sustained diplomatic intervention by New Delhi, as it exhibited effectiveness of bilateral engagements in receiving complex legal matters.

 

The Indian government has expressed its gratitude for the release of the eight Navy officers, who were working for and acknowledged the top Qatari leadership.

 

 

 

The retired officers – Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta and Sailor Ragesh Gopakumar– were detained in Qatar on August 30, 2022 on undeclared charges. They were employed by Doha-based Dahra Global Technologies, a defence services provider company.

 

The intelligence agency of Qatar had apprehended them from their residences on charges of 'espionage', reportedly on behalf of Israel, specifically regarding Qatar's stealth submarine programme. They were overseeing the induction of Italian U212 stealth submarines in the Qatari Emiri Naval Force. All the charges of espionage had been vehemently denied.

 

For almost more than a year they were put in solitary confinement. On August 4, 2023, they were allowed to move from solitary confinement to a jail ward with their colleagues, two men to each cell.

 

 

 

 

On October 26, last year, Qatar's Court of First Instance had awarded the death penalty to all eight men and India had expressed “deep shock” at the sentence. Almost a fortnight later (November 9), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said that its legal team had obtained the details of the charges, which were not made public.

 

Amidst fervent appeals from the anxious families of the Navy veterans for their release and safe return to India, the MEA assured to utilise all diplomatic channels and provide legal assistance. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had at the time met family members of the men and provided the assurance.

 

The Qatar Court of Appeals commuted the death sentence to prison for varying durations ranging from three years to 25 years, following a diplomatic intervention by Delhi, on December 28, last year.

 

 

 

 

It may be pertinent to note that a few days prior to the reduction of sentence, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, on the sidelines of the 2023 Climate Change Conference (CoP28) in Dubai. Modi said they had "discussed the well-being of the Indian community in Qatar".

 

Last month, the Court of Appeal gave 60 days to the Naval personnel to appeal against varying prison terms given to them following commutation of their death sentences.

 

The court initially delivered the judgment as an oral order, and MEA spokesman Randhir Jaiswal had said that the legal team aiding the eight men had received a copy of the verdict but it was a “confidential document”.

 

Purnendu Tiwari was given a 25-year prison term, while Ragesh was given a three-year sentence. Four of the former Navy officers were given 15-year prison terms and two others 10-year prison terms.

 

 

 

 

Among the eight veterans, Captain Navtej Gill was awarded the President's Gold Medal for Excellence when he graduated from the Naval Academy and later served as an instructor at the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington in Tamil Nadu.

 

He was a navigating officer on INS Viraat, considered a prized posting, and also commanded INS Prabal, an advanced missile corvette and the lead ship of the ‘Killer squadron’.

 

 

 

 

Captain Vashistha was an engineering officer in the Indian Navy. He was command refit officer at Southern Naval Command and served on INS Kulish, INS Khanjar and Indian Coast Guard ship Sangram.

 

Commander Tiwari received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman in 2019, a highest recognition bestowed upon Indians residing abroad. Commander Tiwari was holding the position of Managing Director at Dahra Global Technologies. He had an illustrious career in the Indian Navy where he commanded many warships that included INS Magar. He was the fleet navigating officer of the eastern fleet and also served on Rajput class destroyers.

 

Commander Nagpal was a communication and electronic warfare specialist; Commander Gupta was a gunnery specialist and Commander Verma specialised in navigation and direction.

 

 

(The Author is Senior journalist, with experience of reporting for national as well as international media)
 

 

--