Eight former Indian navy men have been sentenced to death in Qatar on espionage charges.

Captains Navtej Singh Gill, Birendra Kumar Verma, and Saurabh Vasisht; commodores Amit Nagpal, Sanjeev Gupta, Purnendu Tiwari, and Sugunakar Pakala; and sailor Ragesh have been held since August last year.

According to reports, they were employed by Al Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services in Doha which provides training and security related services to Qatar‘s armed forces.

The men were said to be working on a secretive submarine project – and the country’s intelligence agency claims to have evidence of a breach.

India‘s foreign ministry has said it is “deeply shocked” by the death sentences and could take further action.

“We are in touch with the family members and the legal team, and we are exploring all legal options,” it said.

“We attach high importance to this case, and have been following it closely.

“We will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also take up the verdict with Qatari authorities.”

‘Disturbing developments’

The first trial in the case was held in March, but there has been a veil of secrecy surrounding it and the men’s families have not been given any details of the charges.

It is proving to be a major diplomatic challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s government, with opposition parties raising the issue.

A spokesperson for India’s Congress party said it felt the “greatest anguish, distress, and shock” regarding the “disturbing developments” and called on the government to secure the men’s release.

The sister of commodore Purnendu Tiwari, a decorated officer who has commanded several warships, has also appealed for them to be brought home “without any further delay”.

Read more from Sky News:
Putin sets date for Russia’s new space station
Looking back on a year of Twitter under Musk

India and Qatar’s close ties

Qatar has used the death penalty in cases of espionage and national security threats before.

In 2002, a Jordanian journalist working with the Qatari Television network was sentenced to death for espionage.

Qatar’s emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the head of state, has the power to pardon or ratify such sentences.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

India has enjoyed good relations with Qatar for decades, and Mr Modi has visited and met the emir.

There are around 800,000 Indians working in the country, making them its largest expatriate community.

India also imports 48% of its liquified natural gas from Qatar, and bilateral trade is valued at $15bn a year.

Related posts:

Anti-fraud probe as EU nations are offered 900 million ‘ghost’ COVID jabs for €12.7bn Thousands flock to edge of spectacular volcanic eruption in Iceland Taliban fire into air at anti-Pakistan protest as UN warns basic services on verge of collapse Reporter who interviewed Peng Shuai says she may not have been able to speak freely Where is Kaliningrad – Russia’s exclave in Europe – and how will Lithuanian sanctions affect Western relations? Russia ‘violates Estonia’s airspace for first time by helicopter’ in highly provocative move Strikes on port of Odesa ‘spit in the face’ from Russia after grain deal Leonardo da Vinci was the son of a slave and half-Italian, expert claims Turkish president ‘backs Sweden’s entry to NATO’ Football fan dies after being hit in neck by bottle of beer outside stadium ‘I love them’: Woman denies murdering ex in-laws after serving them poisonous mushrooms Thousands of Scouts evacuated from World Jamboree site due to storm threat