The Qatar Court sentenced to death eight Indian Navy personnel who were arrested in August last year on suspicion of spying for Israel on a submarine program. The Indian government described the verdict as ‘deeply’ shocking.
Qatar Detained Ex-Indian Navy Officials in August 2022
However, the Indian nationals, who were all employees of the Al Dahra company, were arrested in August of last year in an alleged espionage case. Qatari authorities did not make the charges against the Indian nationals public.
Moreover, after being granted consular access, India’s ambassador to Qatar met the men in prison on October 1.
The chief executive of Dahra Global traveled to Doha to try and get his officials released. But the newspaper says that he also found himself in solitary confinement for two months, before being released on bail.
Who Were the Eight Indian Nationals?
Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Saurabh Vashisht, Commander Purenendu Tiwari, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, Commander Amit Nagpal and Sailor Ragesh.
Additionally, the eight Indian nationals were employed by Dahra Global Technologies and Consulting Services. It is a private company that provides training and other services to Qatar’s defense and security agencies.
Dahra Global Technologies and Consulting Services
According to media reports, Dahra Global Technologies and Consulting Services is advising on a Qatari program to acquire high-tech Italian-made submarines that can avoid radar detection.
According to Al Jazeera, the company will be closed down in May 2023. The company employed up to 75 Indian nationals, the majority of whom were former Navy personnel.
National authorities detained former Indian naval officers on unspecified charges.
Spying For Israel
Moreover, following months of detention, Qatari authorities revealed that the eight former naval officers were spying for Israel on Qatar’s secret submarine program.
The incident gained attention after the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) declared it a “high priority” issue.
However, the first bail hearing for the jailed Indian officers took place a month after they were apprehended and held in solitary confinement. The appeal was denied.
According to reports, New Delhi had consular access to the eight detainees and attempted to secure their release, but Doha informed them that evidence suggests the former officers passed intelligence to Israel.
Death Penalty
Qatari authorities have also claimed that they have electronic evidence of the incident.
A local court in Qatar sentenced eight Indian Navy personnel to death on October 26.
To read our blog on “Former Twitter employee gets 3.5 years in jail for spying for Saudia Arabia,” click here.
