Recent tensions between QATAR & INDIA

Recent issues between countries.

Eight former Indian Navy personnel have been sentenced to death by a court in Qatar!!!

They were arrested by Qatari authorities on August 30, 2022, and have since been under solitary confinement(separately confined)

Their trial began on March 29 this year!!

On October 26 Ministry of External Affairs said, that it was shocked deeply by the verdict of the death penalty and was awaiting detailed judgment.

Members include-

Major Navy personnel Capt Navtej Singh Gill, Capt Sourabh Vashisht, Commander Purnender Tiwari, Capt Bierendra Kumar Verma, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, Commander Amit Nagpal, and Sailor Rajesh.

These members were working at Al Dahara Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, a defense services provider company

The company is owned by an Omani national, Khamis Al Ajmi retired squadron leader of the Royal Oman Air Force. He was also arrested along with eight Indians but he was released in November 2022.

An important aspect to be noticed is that Commander Purnendu Tiwari was granted the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman in 2019 for his services in nurturing the bilateral relationship between India & Qatar.

However, the Indian embassy first learned about the arrests in mid-September last year. On September 30 the men were allowed brief telephonic contact with their family members.The 1st Consular access- a visit by an official of the Indian embassy was granted on October 3rd after a month taken into the custody.However, the charges against the men were never made public but the fact they were put in solitary confinement led the speculation that they had been detained in connection with a security related offence!!!!

The final judgment by the court on October 26 declared the death penalty for all eight men!!!

Furthermore, in addition to the government of India’s efforts, the family of former Navy personnel has also filed a mercy plea to the Emir of Qatar who is known to grant pardon during Ramadan & Eid

However India with bilateral trade of $ 15 billion & diaspora of 8 lakh Indians residing in Qatar. India has a holistic relationship with Qatar as its counterparts meet regularly.

Whether they have been involved in crime or not Indian Ministry of External Affairs has the credibility to discuss and resolve the issues. But it is to be noted that no further details have been received yet!!!