On October 26, the news from Doha that its Court of First Instance had awarded the death sentence to eight Indian Navy veterans working there sent shock waves across India. The Ministry of External Affairs extended “absolute support” to the veterans and promised to make every effort to bring them home. A former Indian Ambassador to Qatar has been tasked with monitoring the case from New Delhi.
Editorial | Mystery trial: On the case of the former Indian Navy personnel in Qatar
This is perhaps the first instance in five decades of Indian migration to the Gulf that any Indian nationals have been accused of involvement in a breach of local security, and their culpability deemed serious enough to warrant the death penalty. The facts relating to the case are meagre: the eight veterans — three captains, four commanders, and a sailor — were employed with a local company, Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services. The company, now closed down, provided training and other support services to the Qatari Navy. The eight naval officials, in detention since August 2022, are accused of espionage. Some sections of the media reported that the officials disclosed to Israel the specifications of an Italian submarine that Qatar contracted to obtain from an Italian company, Fincantieri. But this has been disputed: it has been asserted authoritatively that there is no ongoing submarine contract and no Israeli connection.
