Seven of the eight Indian Navy veterans, who returned to India on Monday morning, had no clue of their imminent release, NDTV reported citing sources. Qatar has released the eight former officers of the Indian Navy after dropping their death sentences, the ministry of external affairs said, crediting the Qatari emir for the decision more than 18 months after the arrest challenged diplomatic relations.
The Indian Navy veterans were accused of spying for Israel, news agency Reuters reported, though India and Qatar did not confirm the charges against them. Their death sentence, handed down in October, was dropped in December.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who “personally supervised all developments” in the case, will visit Qatar on February 14 and hold talks with its ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra told reporters.
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