The Eight Indian Navy veterans, who were detained by Qatar Intelligence Agencies since 30 October 2022 on allegations of espionage related to a stealth submarine programs to Israel.
They were decorated and specialist in their areas.Their names are 1. Captain Navtej Singh Gill, 2.Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, 3.Captain Saurabh Vasisht, 4. Commander Amit Nagpal, 5.Commander Purunendu Tiwari, 6.Commander Sugunakar Pakala, 7.Commander Sanjeev Gupta, and 8. Sailor Ragesh
They were working for Qatar private Comany AL Dahra Global. Their job was to trained Qatar Armed forces and Security agencies, news agencies PTI reported.
The announcement of death sentence by Qatar lower court in case of espionage to the military confidential (stealth submarine) programme to Isreal comes on October 30,2023. When the report comes into media and continuous their families approaches,Indian Foreign affairs ministry comes into the action. Foreign Minister of India Dr S Jaishankar talked with the families of veterans and assured them to make all the efforts to secure their safe release.
Expressing displeasure and shock over the verdict, MEA said that the government is exploring all legal action. After that Capital punishment was commuted to an extent prison term earlier following diplomatic intervention by New Delhi.
Due to continuous effort of MEA and Personal talk of PM of India Narerendra Modi with Amir of the State of Qatar last month in Dubai.
On 12th of February 2024, Indian Foreign affairs ministry confirmed about release of all 8 Indian Navy veterans, in which 7 out of 8 have already returned to India. And appreciate the decision by the Amir of the State of Qatar to enable the release and home coming of these Indian nationals.