A Coursemate’s Plea To Bring Back Naval Veterans on Death Row in Qatar NOW

In a sudden, shocking turn of events, eight former Indian Navy officials who were incarcerated in Qatar on unknown charges since Aug 30 last year were “sentenced to death” by a Qatari ‘Court of First Instance’. Families of the eight veterans who held on to a sliver of hope that back-channel efforts may secure their release now face the most extreme prospect — Death Row.

The naval veterans were working for a now defunct company Dahra Global Technologies based out of Doha. Their area of expertise was training and assisting the Qatari Emiri Forces set up defence capacities- a vital cog in the wheel of Indo-Qatar bilateral defence cooperation & foreign policy. One of the wealthiest countries today, the tiny kingdom of Qatar has traditionally enjoyed warm and cordial relationship with India. Today, an estimated diaspora of 800,000 Indians, along with other nationalities, contribute to building this country in various capacities, brick by brick, under the leadership of HRH Emir Sheikh Tamim Hamad Al Thani.

The details of the present case are far too sketchy and opaque to justify such an extreme sentence in such a short trial. There have hardly been six hearings since the first one on 22nd Mar this year. Since their incarceration in Sep 2022, the Indian government has provided the veterans with the “best” legal assistance. It is unlikely that substantive arguments from the (local) defence counsel would be heard and addressed in just three hearings over seven months.

The “death sentence” has left the Indian establishment “deeply shocked” as per MEA statement put out on Oct 26 soon after sentencing. The MEA statement indicates an ‘unexpected outcome’ while also hinting at the opacity of charges framed against the officials. Meanwhile, Qatar has acted in complete secrecy, moving from trial to conviction in seven months. Apparently, Indian authorities have been taken by complete surprise. Often, when expectations fall woefully short of outcome in such cases, one is left with nothing but tears. I know this from personal experience. I am sure the affected families, even strangers with a conscience, had a lump in their throats when this news broke yesterday.

This episode is personal at many levels. Two of the eight — Cdr Sanjeev Gupta & Cdr Amit Nagpal — are my coursemates whom i have known personally for over 4 decades. It is a fauji truism that nobody — not even your spouse — knows you better than a coursemate.

Sanjeev (First Course of 10+2(X), “Oceans Best”), my namesake & one of the convicted, is known as “Chote” or “Don” in our course. His small frame hides an outsized heart and rock-solid patriotism while his ever-helpful nature earned him the latter epithet. Such is his obsession with propriety and fairness that on one of my earliest visits to his hometown Agra, he dragged my errant auto rickshaw driver all the way from the bus station to local police station to register a complaint for charging ‘excess to meter’. His peers and subordinates will recount numerous anecdotes where his “dildaar” and “can do” attitude saved the day.

Another accused, coursemate, Cdr Amit Nagpal (78 NDA), “Naggy” as we call him in our circles, is a quintessential gentleman — a man of few words and impeccable character whom I first met when we ran into our NDA coursemates on ships of the training squadron at Kochi. A communication and electronic warfare specialist, he knows the value of “indiscretion” and “radio silence” better than most. Always professional, meticulous and “officer-like” to a fault, Naggy and self did the 61st staff course together at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, 2005-06. I cannot begin to fathom the fate that befalls him and his family today.

I can sign a character certificate for these two officers with my eyes closed. So can multitude of naval officials who have known or worked with these eight veterans, including sailor Ragesh. These are honest, above-board gentlemen who worked with the same zeal and commitment in Indian Navy service as in their selected fields post-retirement. I challenge those who know them personally to publicly reveal me a single act of indiscretion that even remotely points to suspicions of the nature they have been charged with.

The Managing Director of their enterprise, Cdr Purnendu Tiwari (i don’t know him personally), was felicitated with Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award by the Hon’ble President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind at a glittering ceremony in Jan 2019 for “enhancing India’s image abroad”. Cdr Purnendu Tiwari is the first Indian armed forces veteran to be awarded this honour meant for NRIs / PIOs. How did these character certificates suddenly dissolve into a death sentence? What level of bungling led to this impasse? Whom are we seeking to protect? This is something the Indian government needs to come out clean with. Not least because Qatar won’t tell.

There are, quite obviously, missing pieces to this puzzle yet to be uncovered by investigative noses from India. But, i fear, under a climate of “ab tum chup raho” and nosediving indices of press freedom, facts may never come out, even if they lurk beneath the surface, or, worse still, point to the establishment. Meanwhile, Qatar has proceeded unapologetically, thumbing their noses at our soft-pedalling attitude (remember, our VP visited Qatar during FIFA World Cup inaugural). The latest judgment can best be described as a resounding slap on the face of Indian diplomacy. Is it okay to be “deeply shocked” at such travesties when “Vishwaguru” is the image that is unabashedly being promoted by all arms of the government?

I fear this case may go the Kulbhushan Jadhav way (another very unfortunate case, trail of which case seems to have gone cold) unless we move with alacrity. There are distinct differences, though I sincerely wish India had done more for Kulbhushan’s case. Dahra Global and its verticals were doing above-ground work in a crucial area of Indo-Qatar defence collaboration. This space would undoubtedly have international competitors with enormous clout, money and political patronage who would (undoubtedly) gain from the fall of Dahra Global and scapegoating of these IN veterans. Perhaps it is time for the public, if not the government, to seek answers to the old police maxim: “who benefits from the crime?”

The terrible turn of events couldn’t have come at a more inopportune moment for the convicted veterans & their families. Dahra Global Technologies in Qatar is no longer a going concern, which means the IN personnel are pretty much on their own. India’s nuanced position on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war & support to the Palestinian cause will be put to test against Qatar’s emerging role in working out a rapprochement between the Arab world and Israel, even as world leaders weigh their options. Our relationship with Qatar will head South if ensuing diplomatic row after the latest imbroglio is not settled on mutually acceptable terms. India is in the grip of ICC cricket world cup fever where absurd theatrics and sporting fervour can easily eclipse real-life problems. If all this was not bad enough, India is headed into general election season where parties will politicise every available opportunity.

The downside of hypnotising billions with an image of “world leader” or “Vishwaguru” is that sometimes problems crop up that demand the full agency of such leaders to step-in and solve complicated problems. Now the unthinkable has happened — eight Indian Navy veterans are on DEATH ROW in a friendly foreign country and the MEA under our strongman, EAM S Jaishankar is “deeply shocked”. Whatever that means in diplomacy, this event has no precedence in modern India. The minions, influencers, Ambassadors and lawyers have done their bit, had their say. No more passing of buck is possible. The issue is right here on the table of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruler of a wealthy Middle East kingdom that served us 14-month notice.

Bring Back our naval veterans on Death Row in Qatar NOW.

*************

©KP Sanjeev Kumar, 2023. All rights reserved. I can be reached at realkaypius@gmail.com or on my Twitter @realkaypius. Views are personal.

30 thoughts on “A Coursemate’s Plea To Bring Back Naval Veterans on Death Row in Qatar NOW

  1. I am at loss of words. This is sheer mass murder of glorious, patriotic men who once adorned the white uniform with pride. I hope GoI takes a strong note of this and does whatever possible to reverse this highly questionable & unfair verdict of a Qatar lower court.

  2. Hi uncle,

    In dire times, you pick up your pen as if it were your sword and unleash the truth to cut through the darkness of ignorance. Thank you for shedding light into the personalities and stories of these men. They have been suffering for over a year now and yesterday’s verdict took the breath out of my lungs. I cannot imagine what their families must be undergoing. I pray that they make it back home. I pray in times of crises, the country can protect the people who protect the nation.

  3. When thousands of people, forced to work under sub human conditions to get the stadia ready for the FIFA World Cup 2022, lost their lives , the World kept mum. The toll included two thousand Indian citizens. No one cared.
    In the case of our erstwhile colleagues, incarcerated in an alien country for the last fourteen months and now sentenced to death, the turmoil in West Asia could not have come at a more inopportune time. Our diplomatic response, indifferent to start with was largely ineffective thereafter. But, its an election year, and the Government needs a few success stories. Let’s hope the safe return of our colleagues, is one such.

  4. Urge the GOI to do all it takes, to get the verdict reversed, and to get back our innocent veterans safely

    1. I too wish and sincerely pray that GOI will definitely do something and they will return safely to their families.

  5. Passionate and deeply committed.Still the balance and objectivity has an enviable equilibrium.The Indian govt of the day is notorious for dropping uncomfortable co-passengers.We are likely to never know what happened or is happening behind the scenes.Personally Israel,India,Qatar,technically expert Naval Veterans and the Pravasi Award promoted by Modi all make it a heady cocktail.I’m not brave enough to speculate in favour,for now.My sincere best wishes for justice to prevail.

  6. Is keeping 800,000 manual labourers in inhumane conditions in Qatar so important that we forget that we are a strong nation. I wish that strength manifests itself now and we taken on the bully that is Qatar. So what if 800,000 Indian manual laborers there come back. Its not as if Qatar will not be affected by it. But its time we let Qatar know that we value our honor and lives of our soldiers more than Oil money.

  7. Unfathomable.
    Gorious, patriotic men who once adorned the white uniform with pride. Post retirement and having trained Qatar navy fraternity for 4 to 6 years, the treatment being met to them is unfathomable. . I hope GoI takes a strong note of this and does whatever possible to reverse this highly questionable & unfair verdict of a Qatar lower court.

    These guys are victims of Pak security factions ( a subset of ISI) which took over the security of Qatar assets as relations between Qatar and Pakistan have been good. Also Italian game plan, involvement of Qatar Ministers cliser to the Royals has caused these aspertions.

    Indian diplomats must take things seriously. Get them back as per International Law.

    Else we must tighten the noose on every Qatari in India and every foreign country we meet. Rip him of espionage and hang him.

    Shame on Qatar.

  8. The GOI has to take expeditious measures to bring back these defense personnel back home, even at the level of Prime Minister.
    We all pray for their safety and welfare.

  9. The judgement has been shocking to say the least. Heart goes out to the families. Trust the GoI would put its might behind this case and do whatever it takes to get our men back .

  10. Jai Hind
    Very well written piece to save our brother officers from the clutches of evil dynasty. May god and the prayer of brother officers bring them back home in good health and spirit. All our prayers are with you.
    Abhijit Ghosh (ex Colonel)
    Corps of Engineers
    Indian Army

  11. Unjustified punishment is not acceptable.
    Please release the destined naval personnel 8mmediately

  12. Appeal MEA to have serious diplomatic discussions to get our 8 officers back. It is absolutely NOT justified to have them sentenced in such a quick, short and opaque trial.

    Sending wishes and God’s strength to the families going through this tumultuous period.

  13. This is the time right time for the 56 inch chest to flex his muscles. Quite right. This requires the direct intervention of the Hon PM.
    Bring them home…..

  14. First, hats off for speaking out for your coursemates / former colleagues and above all for humanity in general. It takes immense courage of conviction and compassion to assert your support for them while pointing to the fault lines of powers that be!

    The whole issue of these former Indian naval officers seems to be shrouded in mystery. Everything is wrapped up in just one word ‘espionage’ without giving a clear account of what the charges are while the Qatar agencies claim evidence. Clear evidence is not something that one feels reluctant to release. That makes one think if the evidence they claim to have is fabricated or if these officers are implicated.

    It is a known fact that “Sharia is a main source of Qatari legislation according to Qatar’s constitution” and that is a toxic mix of law and religion. No religion, if it is meant to be of any use to humanity, advocates at the core of its teachings conflict, cruelty, and division. Much of what is practiced on what should not be is based on biased and convenient interpretations to favour another power structure that aims exactly the opposite. Law based on religious dictums must be confronted with deeper nuances within the very same religious texts, lore or chronicles. For example, the caste issue in Hinduism can be confronted with that single episode in the life of Adi Shankara (788 AD – 820 AD) as depicted so well in the film Adi Shankaracharya. Here is that slice:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb9nNbQq4rw

    In the same way, Sharia derived from the Quran and Hadith has immense references highlighting the importance of compassion and forgiveness. (Here the word forgiveness itself could be a misnomer if these naval officers are falsely accused. ) Still, giving due credit to Qatar authorities for upholding law derived from religious texts, one could still ask the question if they are ‘really’ going by the spirit of the words or just by their literal meaning. If only they listened to the words of their own writer from Egypt Naguib Mahfouz (the first Arab to win the Nobel prize in literature): “ God did not intend religion to be an exercise club.”… If only they had the courage to relook and reconfigure the age-old dictums (often misinterpreted) for the current times based on conscience and brotherhood would there be any hope of “emancipating oneself from mental slavery” as Bob Marley once sang.

    So, what would it be like to raise a collective voice questioning the biased implementation of religious texts while remaining oblivious, comfortably numb to its central teachings rooted in kindness and unity? I found the following article “Don’t Write off Sharia’s Forgiveness Option Just Because of the Khashoggi Case” quite an eye-opener in that direction:
    https://canopyforum.org/2020/09/11/dont-write-off-sharias-forgiveness-option-just-because-of-the-khashoggi-case-by-matthew-p-cavedon/

    When diplomatic channels are clogged, when political will is diffident the only way left is to shake up the conscience – the more collective rigour it gets, the better!

    Prof.Bahar Davary(Iran) brings it up so well and drives it home well in her essay “Forgiveness in Islam: Is it an Ultimate Reality?”. You can access it here. (I have highlighted some portions that i felt could be questioned the very idea of ‘obeying religious teachings and deriving law of the land from it.’)
    https://drive.google.com/file/d/11P5dV8R3X2TY6gj-awIrCwkHoOFiLOF9/view?usp=sharing

    So, what would it be like to take the Qatar authorities on their own turf – the very religion they claim to hold dear and go through while the central essence of the religion itself does not seem to have gone through them!

  15. Very interesting read. Cdr Sareshth has added more authentic information on the subject. Like his personal knowledge of two affected Veterans. My personal view,
    Our Government cannot let any country give Capital punishment to our citizens, most importantly veterans.
    Let them do it to any American Citizen and watch the action. Why can’t we learn from Super Powers , how to treat our country men at any cost
    Let’s do it to stop exodus of our great assets to various countries. Lately this exodus is rising exponentially. I have faith in our EAM , let’s wait and watch.
    Jai Hind

  16. Deeply shocked & anguished. Cdr Purnendu Tiwari was my FNO in Eastern fleet. An honest, hardworking & professional to the root. He had been doing very well in traing field abroad & duely bestowed Pravasi bhartiya award. It is sad our vetrans have fallen victim to dirty regional politics. It is long they have been laguishing in jail for long, govt should have acted tough with quataris as soon this episode took place. Now we should use all means at our command to get them back & teach quatar a lesson. My heart goes out the veterans & their families.

  17. The fallacy of spying stares is hard in the face. Even without knowing these gentlemen, the charges & the timing of it seems politically motivated & a game of realpolitik.

    MEA must ensure this case gets heard at the highest levels & get our boys back home.

  18. Hi,

    Unless you make a political issue out of it or unless India’s most respected Admirals speak up, nothing will change. This govt understands only elections.

    Look at the female wrestlers issue. That molester is still Scott free.

  19. Deeply shocked and dismayed at the treatment meted out to our naval veterans. GOI must do every bit to bring them back unscathed.
    Sadly we didn’t learnt a lesson post Kulbhushan Jadhav episode (Navy should have issued an advisory warning naval veterans to take employment in Middle eastern countries).
    It appears Pakis have role in influencing Qataris for such a dastardly verdict..!

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