Eight Indian Navy Veterans Released After Death Sentence in Qatar

In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, the Narendra Modi government successfully secured the release of eight former Indian Navy veterans who were earlier sentenced to death by Qatar’s Court of First Instance on October 26, 2023. Ragesh Gopakumar, one of the released veterans, expressed gratitude for being alive and reunited with his family in Balaramapuram, Kerala.

Gopakumar, who retired from the Indian Navy in 2017 and worked as a communications instructor in Oman, credited their survival in Qatar to their defense training. He highlighted the hardships of prison life and revealed that he used to speak to his wife at least five times a day before their imprisonment.

The Navy veteran praised the personal intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which played a crucial role in their release. He emphasized that if an Indian is in trouble abroad and is innocent, PM Modi will come to their rescue. The veterans were sentenced to death in October 2023, with Qatar’s Court of Appeal later commuting the capital punishment to jail terms ranging from three to 25 years on December 28.

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval played a significant role in negotiations with Qatari authorities to secure the release. The Union government officially welcomed the decision, acknowledging the Amir of the State of Qatar for enabling the release of the Navy veterans and their return to India.