Qatar re-arrests Indian Navy veteran, family appeals to PM Modi for help
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Worrying news has emerged from Qatar once again. Commander Purnendu Tiwari, a former Indian Navy officer stranded there, has been re-arrested. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) officially confirmed the news on Friday. Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said he was detained in December following a Qatari court ruling. It's worth noting that Tiwari is the only one of the eight former officers who was unable to return to India after his release.
Old case and embassy surveillance
A spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, providing details of the case, stated that Tiwari was arrested in connection with a long-standing case in Qatar. Several other individuals were also arrested in this operation, but they are not Indian citizens. The Indian government clarified that the Indian Embassy in Doha is in constant contact with Commander Tiwari and his family and is providing them with all possible assistance. Since the arrest was made on a court order and the case is currently sub judice, the Ministry declined to comment further.
Death sentence and return of 7 companions
This case has been in the news since August 2022, when Qatar's intelligence agency arrested eight former Indian Navy officers on suspicion of espionage. They were training the Qatari Navy at Dahra Global Technologies. In October 2023, a Qatari court sentenced these eight Indians to death, a decision India strongly protested. Following intense diplomatic pressure and efforts by the Indian government, all eight officers were released in February 2024. Following their release, seven officers returned safely to India, but Purnendu Tiwari was ordered to remain in Qatar due to certain legal restrictions.
Family in Gwalior is worried, in touch with the government
Commander Purnendu Tiwari originally hails from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. His family is deeply shocked by his inability to return to India and the news of his re-arrest. His sister has repeatedly appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and the Chief of Naval Staff through social media and other platforms to expedite her brother's return to India on humanitarian grounds. The Indian government has assured that it is committed to ensuring legal assistance and protection for its citizen and is closely monitoring this sensitive issue with Qatar.