NEW DELHI: Eight former members of the Indian Navy who had been held in the Gulf nation on suspicion of espionage have been freed, marking a significant diplomatic win for India. In a statement issued early on Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) hailed the development and stated that seven of the eight former members of the Indian Navy who were employed by the private company Al Dahra Global Company had returned to India from Qatar. “The release of eight Indian citizens who were arrested in Qatar while employed for Dahra Global Company is welcomed by the Indian government. Of the eight, seven have gone back to India. The MEA stated in a statement, “We are grateful for the Emir of the State of Qatar’s decision to facilitate these citizens’ release and return home. Eight Indian Navy personnel who were detained in the Al Dahra Global case had their death sentences overturned by a Qatari court in December of last year. The death penalty was lowered to prison time. The change occurred after the Indian government’s appeal against the Navy veterans’ death sentences was granted by Qatar’s Court of First Instance. Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, and Sailor Ragesh are the eight members of the Indian Navy that were taken into custody in Qatar.The veterans of the Indian Navy came back to Delhi and expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking up the cause. “Without PM Modi’s intervention, we would not be able to be standing here. One of the veterans of the Navy added, “And it also happened because of the ongoing efforts of the Government of India.” Similar thoughts were expressed by his colleague, who stated, “We waited about eighteen months to return to India. We are deeply appreciative of the Prime Minister. Without his personal intervention and his arrangement with Qatar, it would not have been feasible.”
