Indian espionage case in Qatar

In August 2022, eight retired Indian Navy officers were detained by Qatar on suspicion of allegedly spying for Israel, while employed by a company in Qatar. The detained men were allegedly involved in dubious activities connected to espionage.[2][3]

Indian naval officers spying for Israel in Qatar
DateAugust 2022 – present
LocationQatar
TypeAlleged espionage
AccusedEight former Indian navy officers
ChargesEspionage, gathering intelligence on a secret Qatari submarine project[1]
VerdictDeath penalty

Background

Millions of Indian nationals reside in the Gulf region, with tens of thousands employed in semi-skilled and low-income jobs. These migrant workers have been instrumental in the development of the economies of Gulf Arab states and serve as a crucial source of remittances for India.[4]

Arrest

According to reports, they were in charge of teaching the Qatari Navy and were employed by a private company run by an officer from the Oman Air Force that offers training and other services to Qatar's armed forces.

On 30 August 2022, the former Indian Navy 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, were arrested from Doha by the Qatari intelligence service.[5]

The arrested officials' bail requests have been denied by Qatari authorities eight times, and their incarceration has most recently been increased. The men had their case forwarded to court by the public prosecutor.[6][7]

Verdict

In October 2023, the eight former Indian naval officers working for the Al Dahra consulting company, which was advising the Qatari government on the acquisition of submarines, were handed death sentences by a Qatari court.[8] Neither Qatar nor India have revealed the specific charges against them.[4]

Reactions

The detained officials from Qatar were allegedly being actively sought after by the Indian mission in Doha, according to the Ministry of External Affairs of India (MEA). Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the MEA, said that the Indian Embassy in Doha spoke with the Qatari government and that Indian diplomats visited the arrested officials to inquire about their wellbeing. The families of the arrested individuals are still in contact with the Indian embassy in Doha, which is also providing consular and legal support. However, the MEA withheld any information pertaining to the accusations made against the former officers.[9][10][11]

Qatari side has also maintained complete silence on allegations, and has not used the word "espionage" or "spying".[12] An Indian journalist and their spouse were also ordered by Qatari authorities to leave the country for reporting on the case.[13][14]

See also

References
  1. "Qatar awards death penalty to 8 ex-Indian Navy officers for espionage - Timeline". 26 October 2023.
  2. Swami, Praveen (April 19, 2023). "8 former Navy officers imprisoned by Qatar accused of spying on emirate's super-secret submarine programme".
  3. "8 Indians allegedly spying for Israel arrested in Qatar - report - The Jerusalem Post". 10 November 2022.
  4. "Qatar sentences Indian ex-naval officers to death". BBC News. 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  5. "Qatar court hands death sentence to eight former Indian Navy officials; 'deeply shocked' MEA exploring all legal options". The Hindu. 26 October 2023.
  6. "Case of 8 former naval personnel detained since Aug comes up in Qatar court: MEA". Hindustan Times. April 6, 2023.
  7. "Qatar arrests eight Indian nationals accused of spying for Israel". I24news. 20 April 2023.
  8. "India 'exploring all legal options' after Qatari court sentences 8 Indians to death for spying". AP News. 26 October 2023.
  9. "India Seeks Release of 8 Ex-Navy Officers Arrested in Qatar Over Spying for Israel".
  10. "8 Indians allegedly spying for Israel arrested in Qatar". WION.
  11. "Explained: The row over 8 former Indian Navy officers being detained in Qatar". Firstpost. November 9, 2022.
  12. "India News, India News Live and Breaking News Today". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  13. "8 ex-Indian Navy officers awarded death penalty in Qatar; 'Deeply shocked', says MEA". Hindustan Times. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  14. Network, KL News (26 October 2023). "Qatar Sentences Eight Indian Navy Officials to Death". Kashmir Life. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.