Delhi, 12 February (H.S): On Monday, India celebrated the news of the release of eight former Indian Navy personnel by the Qatar court, who were previously sentenced to death on charges of espionage.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed their appreciation for the decision made by the Amir of the State of Qatar to release and allow the seven out of eight Indian nationals to return home.

The Indian government had been actively involved in diplomatic talks with Qatar to commute the sentence and bring the former Navy officers back to their home country. The MEA also stated that they are working towards bringing the last released veteran back to India and exploring all legal options to have any remaining charges dropped. This case, which began in October 2022, saw a major turn of events last year when the death sentence was commuted to jail terms after intervention by the Indian government.

The MEA further expressed their shock at the initial ruling by the court and their commitment to ensure justice for all eight Indian nationals involved in this case. This decision by the Qatar court has been welcomed with great relief and gratitude by the Indian government and citizens alike.

Hindusthan Samachar/ Indrani Sarkar