DOHA – The Qatari government has sacked eight former officers of the Indian Navy and put them on trial on charges of spying for Israel, says a report in The Tribune.
The report says these former officers of the Indian Navy have been kept in solitary confinement in Doha since August last year and they are facing stringent charges, including death penalty. The hearing of the case is scheduled to resume on May 3.
The Indian Navy veterans who have been charged with spying for Israel are Capt Navtej Singh Gill, Capt Birendra Kumar Verma, Capt Saurabh Vasisht, Cdr Amit Nagpal, Cdr Purnendu Tiwari, Cdr Sugunakar Pakala, Cdr Sanjeev Gupta and Sailor Ragesh.
According to the report, the Qatari authorities are in possession of electronic evidence of spying by the Indian Navy veterans.
Responding to queries about the Indian Navy officers charged with spying on Qatar for Israel, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “We are engaged with the Qatari authorities. Our embassy in Doha continues to remain in touch with the families. The next day of the hearing is in early May. We are trying to see what can be done before that in connection with that hearing.”
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Besides Indian Navy veterans, charges have been framed against two Qataris, including former Oman Air Force officer Khamis al-Ajmi, who is the CEO of Dahra Global Technologies. Qatar’s Head of International Military Operations, Maj Gen Tariq Khalid Al Obaidly, is the other Qatari national to be charged along with the Indians.
Dahra Global Technologies had employed the Indian Navy veterans for Qatar’s super-secret project to build Italian technology-based midget submarines with stealth characteristics.
As per the report published by The Tribune, Dahra Global Technologies had employed a large number of former personnel of the Indian Navy to work on the Qatari submarines project. They have now been informed that the company is closing down from May 31, but they have been offered a severance package.
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With no salaries in future to pay for legal expenses, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the ministry was making “all efforts to assist these Indians”.
Bagchi explained, “This is now in the legal process. Let me emphasise that we are making all efforts to assist these Indians who were detained and we are also extending consular assistance as well as legal assistance as part of the legal process that is underway.”
The Indian Embassy in Doha is also facilitating regular visits to the family members and providing consular and legal assistance to the eight detained former officers of the Indian Navy.
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Quoting official Indian sources, Indian news service ANI reported that the “case has now been taken up at the highest possible level by the Indian agencies but the Qatari government has not shown any signs of relenting on the issue”.
ANI also cited the sources as saying that there was a possibility that Pakistani intelligence agencies “framed” the ex-Indian Navy officers.