8 ex-Indian navy servicemen detained by Qatar released

NEW DELHI

The Qatari authorities have released eight Indian ex-naval officers who were in detention since August 2022, Indian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

The officers were arrested over charges of spying for Israel, local media reported, although no official comment was made.

In December last year, the Qatar court had reduced the death sentence of the officers to imprisonment.

“The government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar,” Indian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

Seven out of the eight employees have returned to India, the ministry added.