New Delhi, 12 Feb (HS): Indian diplomatic intervention succeeded in getting eight veteran Navy personnel released by Qatar. Seven of them have returned to India, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday.

The eight were awarded capital punishment by Qatar allegedly for spying. The capital punishment was later converted to life imprisonment. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured their family members that all diplomatic channels would be used to release them.

The Indian Government appreciated the decision to release eight Indian nationals who were in prison in Qatar since October 2022. The Qatar Court had initially sentenced them to death for undisclosed charges. The capital punishment was later commuted to life imprisonment. The former Indian Navy personnel were working for Al-Dahra Global Company.

The eight were charged with spying on the submarine programme of Qatar.

Hindusthan Samachar/ Ajay Mardikar/ Sanjiv/Manoj