Major win for Indian diplomacy: Qatar court drops death penalty for 8 Indians
In a great relief to the families of the eight former Indian Navy personnel, who were put on death row in Qatar in the Dahra Global espionage case, the appellate court decided to commute their death sentences. India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced on Thursday that their sentences have been “reduced”.
The former Navy personnel were arrested a year-and-a-half ago in the Middle Eastern nation. Sources say their sentences have been reduced to varying durations ranging from three years to 25 years.
Captains Navtej Gill and Saurabh Vasisht, Commanders Purnendu Tiwari, Amit Nagpal, SK Gupta, BK Verma and Sugunakar Pakala, and sailor Ragesh were arrested by the Qatari law enforcement agencies. The detailed judgement is still awaited.
The family members of the former Navy personnel were present with the Indian ambassador to Qatar and other officials from the Indian embassy in the Court of Appeal when the judgment was delivered on Thursday, December 28.
However, the government has assured that more legal avenues will be ventured upon to try to further reduce the sentences and diplomatic efforts will continue for their rapid release.
