Red-faced, according to the Indian external affairs ministry, Indian officials are doing everything they can to hasten the release and return of eight former naval officers who have been held in Qatar for about two months.
The allegations against this former navy personnel are unknown, despite the Ministry of External Affairs’ confirmation of their detention on Thursday.
The eight Indian nationals were apparently employed by Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, a private company that offers training and other services to Qatar’s armed forces and security agencies. Among the eight were decorated former naval officers who have held prominent posts.
“We have been keeping track of this particular case’s developments [in Qatar]. Eight Indian citizens who, according to what we understand, were employed by a private company in Qatar or the surrounding area have been detained,” said Arindam Bagchi, a spokesperson for the external affairs ministry, at a weekly news briefing on Thursday.
In contact with Qatari officials, the Indian embassy in Doha “is making all feasible efforts for the early release and repatriation of the arrested Indian nationals,” the official added.
Last month, the detained Indian citizens’ consular access was granted to Indian embassy representatives, who checked on them to make sure they were okay. According to Bagchi, the Indians have had a few conversations with their relatives.
“We have asked for additional consular access, and we are pursuing this with the Qatari government. The ministry and our consulate are in contact with the families,” he continued.
The website for Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services now claims that it is undergoing maintenance, and the company’s Linkedin listing has been taken down. The company has identified itself as the Qatari military forces’ “local commercial partner.”
The imprisoned Indians include Commander Purnendu Tiwari, a retired managing director of Dahra Global. While serving with the Indian Navy, he oversaw many battleships.
The detained Indians had all recently been employed by Dahra Global. Several of them left their positions as commanders. Regarding the justifications for their detention, the Qatari authorities are silent.
The general director of the company, Commander Purnendu Tiwari (ret. ), is one of the eight Indians being held. In 2019, Ram Nath Kovind, who was India’s president at the time, presented him with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award.
According to his biography on the business website, he oversaw a minesweeper and a sizable amphibious vessel while he was a member of the Indian Navy.
According to reports, the issue received attention after educator Dr. Meetu Bhargava said in a tweet that the veterans had been held “illegally” for about fifty-seven days. Dr. Bhargava mentioned several ministers, including Rajnath Singh, the minister of defense, S. Jaishankar, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
