Eight Ex-Indian Navy Officers Get Death Penalty In Qatar; India To Challenge Verdict

Eight former officers of the Indian Navy have been sentenced to death in Qatar after facing allegations of espionage on Thursday. The Indian foreign ministry has announced that it will contest the case.

Eight Indian veterans, including Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Purenendu Tiwari, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, Commander Amit Nagpal, and Sailor Ragesh, were employed by Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, a defense services provider owned by a retired squadron leader of the Royal Omani Air Force. He was briefly detained along with the Indian group but released in November.

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These individuals, arrested in Doha the previous year, faced allegations of spying on Qatar's advanced submarines designed for Israel. These submarines were equipped with special materials to enhance their stealth capabilities, making them highly sought after by navies worldwide. 

Despite multiple attempts to secure bail and extended detentions by Qatari authorities, the Court of First Instance of Qatar delivered the judgment today.

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In response to the verdict, the foreign ministry issued a statement expressing its shock and stated, "We are deeply shocked by the verdict of death penalty and are awaiting the detailed judgment. We are in touch with the family members and the legal team, and we are exploring all legal options."

"We attach high importance to this case, and have been following it closely. We will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also take up the verdict with Qatari authorities," the ministry statement read.