Navy veterans imprisoned in Qatar were unaware that they would be returning home until

Navy veterans imprisoned in Qatar were unaware that they would be returning home until

An Indigo plane carrying seven Navy veterans touched down in Delhi around two in the morning.

New Delhi: Sources informed NDTV that seven Navy veterans who had been imprisoned in Qatar were returned to India today, but there was no word of an early release. According to sources, the ex-servicemen were advised by the jailers yesterday night to pack their stuff and wait until around nine in the morning (local time). He was thereafter driven to the embassy and then the airport, according to sources. At two in the morning, they boarded the IndiGo aircraft and touched down in Delhi.

A Qatari court sentenced eight Indians to death in October on allegations of espionage, including these seven veterans. In December, the death sentence was abolished as a result of diplomatic action taken by India. The lone seasoned player who is still out of the game is completing some paperwork and should be back shortly.

Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Captain Navtej Singh Gill (Retd), Captain Saurabh Vashishtha, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, Are. Commander Amit Nagpal, and Sailor Ragesh are among the veterans returning today. The eight veterans have been detained in prison since their capture in Qatar in 2022.

Despite rumors that he was detained on espionage accusations, he has not been publicly defended by Doha or New Delhi. The veterans worked for a private company called Dahra Global and participated in the Qatar Navy's training program prior to their detention.

The release of "eight Indian nationals working for Dahra Global Company detained in Qatar" was announced by the Ministry of External Affairs, and it was welcomed by Indians. "Of the eight, seven have gone back to India. The ministry said, "We are grateful for the Amir of the State of Qatar's decision to facilitate these people' release and return home.

Shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar on the margins of the COP28 meeting in Dubai in December, the veteran's death sentence was mitigated.

A veteran hailed the prime minister back home. "We are overjoyed to have made a safe return to India. Naturally, we are grateful to PM Modi for his personal participation, which made this possible."

"It took us eighteen months to return to India. We are very appreciative to the Prime Minister. Without both his personal participation and his agreement with Qatar, this would not have been feasible. For all of our efforts, we sincerely thank the Government of India." Our sincere appreciation," said another.