Two of the seven Indian naval veterans were sentenced to death in Qatar under unclear charges, but they got freed after spending 17 months in captivity. They returned to New Delhi on February 11, 2024, thanks to hard work and negotiation. Now, they are asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani to help bring back their friend, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, who is still stuck in Qatar.
This appeal is timely as Al-Thani is visiting India for two days. The veterans who returned include Captains Navtej Gill and Saurabh Vasisht, Commanders Sanjeev Gupta, Amit Nagpal, BK Verma, Sugunakar Pakala, and sailor Ragesh. Commander Tiwari is still in Qatar, and the other veterans want him back home.
Gupta and Pakala said, “It has been one year since our release, but Tiwari is still there because of a travel ban. With the Amir of Qatar visiting India, we ask both leaders for a quick resolution to this problem. We hope he can return home soon, especially to see his old mother.”
In December 2023, Qatar’s Court of Appeal changed the death sentences for the eight men to prison terms of 3 to 25 years. These veterans were working for Al Dahra Global Technologies, which trained and supported Qatar’s military. They had been held since August 2022 without clear reasons. All of them had impressive careers in the Indian Navy.
For example, Captain Gill won the President’s gold medal for excellence and later taught at a renowned military college in India. Tiwari also earned a prestigious award five years ago, becoming the first member of the Indian Armed Forces to receive it for Non-Resident Indians.
Gupta, who spent 531 days in prison, shared that those months were terrible. “The first six months were the worst. At times, I felt like I might die there,” he shared last February. During his time in jail, he read 42 books and practiced meditation and yoga for four hours daily.
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