Days after a Qatar court handed down a death sentence to eight Indian naval veterans, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with their families in Delhi, and both he and Naval Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar promised in separate statements that the government would make “all efforts”, to help release the men.
The families, who have been travelling between Doha and Delhi, trying to have their voice heard since the men, including three former Naval Captains, four Commanders and a sailor, who worked for a defence services company were arrested in August 2022, reportedly for espionage. In a secretive trial process held since March, where even the charges have not been publicly disclosed, the Qatari court of First Instance pronounced on October 26 that the men were guilty, giving the death sentence. Officials said they are still awaiting a copy of the detailed judgement in the case, which has not yet been furnished to the lawyers of the eight men.
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