In a startling turn of events, a local court in Qatar handed down the death penalty to eight former Indian Navy personnel on Thursday. These Indian nationals, who were employed by Al Dahra company, had been detained in August of the previous year on suspicion of espionage. The specific charges brought against them by Qatari authorities remained undisclosed.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) promptly reacted to this shocking verdict, emphasizing the significance of the case and its commitment to exploring all possible legal avenues. The MEA stated, “We have initial information that the Court of First Instance of Qatar has today passed a judgement in the case involving eight Indian employees of Al Dahra company. We are deeply shocked by the verdict of death penalty and are awaiting the detailed judgement. We are in touch with the family members and the legal team, and we are exploring all legal options.”
Further asserting its dedication to the well-being of its citizens, the MEA assured that it would continue to provide both consular and legal assistance to the Indian individuals involved. The ministry added, “We attach high importance to this case, and have been following it closely. We will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also take up the verdict with Qatari authorities. Due to the confidential nature of proceedings of this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture.”
In a significant development, India’s ambassador to Qatar was granted consular access to the incarcerated individuals on October 1, underscoring the government’s efforts to protect its citizens.
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