Ragesh Gopakumar, one of the eight Indians who were recently released from a jail in Qatar, cannot stop thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Gopakumar returned to his home in the suburbs of the state capital city at Balaramapuram after spending 18 months in jail.
He was one of the eight former Indian Defence personnel, who were previously sentenced to death by a court in Qatar. But following massive diplomatic efforts at the highest level between the two countries all of them were set free and got back to India on Monday.
“I just cannot express my happiness on how and what I feel now after getting back home. Am hugely thankful to Modiji, the Emir of Qatar, the team of the External Affairs and the staff of the Indian Embassy in Qatar for making this happen,” said Gopakumar, a former Indian Naval senior sailor.
The Qatar court on Monday released all eight former Indian Defence personnel from its custody, out of which seven have returned to India.
All the eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company were detained in Qatar. Earlier, the capital punishment for the jailed Indian Navy veterans was commuted to an extended prison term after diplomatic talks between Qatar and India.
The eight Indian nationals were imprisoned in Qatar in October 2022 after being accused of allegedly spying on a submarine programme.
The Indian nationals were deemed guilty of espionage by the Qatari court, and were sentenced to death on charges not yet made public.
The Dahra Global case saw a major development last year when the court in Qatar commuted the death sentence of the Indian nationals after intervention by the Indian government. The sentence was reduced to jail terms.
US Congress to certify Trump winner of 2024 election
The US Congress on Monday will certify President-elect Donald Trump's victory in the November 2024 election, peacefully wrapping up a ritual his supporters had tried to prevent in 2021 in the misleading belief that he had been cheated of a win.
Enrolment of new women voters in Tripura higher than of men: Officials
Enrolment of new women voters in Tripura, at 2,166, has been more than that of new male voters, leading to an increase of the gender ratio to 993 in the final electoral rolls from 991 of the draft electoral rolls, officials said here on Monday.
Beginning of the end for Trudeau and his vindictive anti-India politics
The ties between India and Canada soured after Trudeau alleged in the Canadian Parliament last year that he has "credible allegations" of India's hand in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India prepared to respond promptly to any emerging health challenges: J.P. Nadda on HMPV
India’s surveillance network remains vigilant and the country is ready to respond promptly to any emerging health challenges, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda said on Monday, as the number of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in the country reached five in a single day.
Justin Trudeau to step down as Canadian Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau on Monday announced that he will step down as the Canadian Prime Minister and Liberal leader once his party has chosen a new leader.
Glad to know about Microsoft's ambitious expansion, investment plans in India: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who met Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella on Monday, said he was glad to know about the tech giant’s ambitious expansion and investment plans in India.
Sullivan meets NSA Doval, highlights US efforts to bolster civil nuclear cooperation with India
US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan on Monday emphasised efforts of the outgoing Biden administration in finalising necessary steps to delist Indian nuclear entities to promote civil nuclear cooperation and resilient clean energy supply chains.
Two children test positive for HMPV in Chennai, recovering
Two children in Chennai have tested positive for Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) and are recovering, officials said on Monday. Doctors stated that both cases are linked to common respiratory symptoms such as fever, cold, and cough.