Qatar frees 8 retired Indian navy officers whose death sentences over alleged spying were commuted

NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s Foreign Ministry says Qatar has freed eight retired Indian navy officers whose death sentences for alleged spying were commuted last year. The eight men were accused of spying while working at Al Dahra, a consulting company in the oil-rich Gulf state that advises the Qatari government on submarine acquisitions. They were imprisoned in 2022 and handed death sentences in October that were reduced to prison sentences after India said it was exploring legal options and filed an appeal. The ministry on Monday thanked the Amir of Qatar for enabling their release and said seven of the men had returned to India. It said the two governments were working on the return of the eighth retired officer.