Thursday 18th of September 2025
|
|
|
Headlines : * Habu Bhuiyan Calls for Building United Public Opinion to Protect Independence and Democracy   * First batch of 37.5 tons of Hilsa exported to India   * Park Chan-wook`s murder comedy to open Asia`s biggest film festival   * Fossil fuels harm health from `cradle to grave`: report   * IEA says more oil and gas investment may be needed   * Israel intensifies Gaza City bombardment as US backs offensive during Rubio visit   * Dhaka ranks 19th for worst air quality with `moderate` AQI of 81   * DSE, CSE see index gains on Monday trading   * Govt to finalize new salary structure before timeframe: NPC Chairman   * Humans born to become entrepreneurs: Chief Adviser  

   Law & Justice
India Naval Officers Languish in Qatar Jail
  Date : 25-12-2022

World Report Desk: As opposition parties mount pressure on the Indian government to come clean on the recent Tawang border incident with China in which several Indian troops were reportedly injured, some in the media have focused on the eight navy veterans who have been mysteriously languishing in prison in Qatar since August 30. Charges against the eight men, who were picked up by Qatar`s intelligence agency, remain clear “spying”.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die for the winter session on Friday, six days ahead of schedule, without either the China border issue being discussed or the naval officers’ fate being addressed.

“The news ought to have made headlines and the subject incessantly debated, but the incarceration of eight former Indian Navy officers in Qatar lies lost in the grey zone of bureaucracy and diplomacy,” said The Times of India on Monday. The sister of a jailed officer had tweeted a similar call last month.

“The Indian Government need to act immediately, swiftly & walk the talk if they really care about their defence personnel as today is 69th day of the illegal solitary confinement of our senior citizen Navy Veterans (officers) in Doha (Qatar),” wrote Dr Meetu Bhargava, her message copied to the prime minister, external affairs minister and the defence minister, among others.

The Times said it was surprised by the silence. “For more than 100 days now, the decorated soldiers have been locked up in solitary confinement and the government has not told us why the Naval officers were picked up from their homes in the dead of night.“In the age of information and the weightage the Centre gives to the armed forces, it is mysterious why there is a deafening silence surrounding the arrest of the eight officers.”

The arrests first came to light with the tweet of Dr Meetu Bhargava, sister of retired Commander Purnendu Tiwari, The Times said. He is the managing director of Dahra Global Technologies, and his company has been a service provider for the defence and security sector. He has been in Doha since 2013, training Qatar’s Navy personnel, The Times said.

India was given consular access to the Navy veterans in October, but neither New Delhi nor Doha have revea­led under what charges the officers are being held.

“What we know is disturbing the officers are languishing in solitary confinement, The officers are allowed to speak with one member of the family once a week but it can be assumed that their liberty has been hugely curtailed. Tiwari, for example, is forced to speak with his aged, India-based mother only in English, a language she is not entirely comfortable with.”



  
  সর্বশেষ
No Alternative to Tarique Rahman in Establishing Citizens’ Rights — Aminul Haque
Tourists flock to Khagrachhari to enjoy serenity of ‘Kashful`
Bashir for utmost importance to uphold Biman’s reputation
Farida urges youth to remain alert against tobacco industry’s tricky strategy

Chief Advisor: Md. Tajul Islam,
Editor & Publisher Fatima Islam Tania and Printed from Bismillah Printing Press,
219, Fakirapul, Dhaka-1000.
Editorial Office: 219, Fakirapul (1st Floor), Dhaka-1000.
Phone: 02-41070996, Mobile: 01720090514, E-mail: [email protected]