Amid reports of increased espionage activity in the region, Qatar has taken decisive action by expelling India’s Defense Attaché Captain Mohan Atla for his alleged involvement in Israeli espionage. The shockwaves from the incident have been felt in New Delhi, where eight Indian Navy personnel had been detained in Qatar on charges of espionage last year. The expelled official had been identified as Cdr Purnendu Tiwari, Capt Navtej Singh, Cdr Birendra Kumar Verma, Capt Saurabh Vashisht, Cdr Sugnakar Pakala, Cdr Amit Nagpal, Cdr Sanjeev Gupta, and Sailor Ragesh.

Qatar Expelling India’s Defense Attaché for Alleged Involvement in Israeli Espionage: Shockwaves Felt in New Delhi

The accused are believed to have been working under a private firm in Qatar and supposedly providing training and other services to the Qatari Emiri Navy. Qatar’s decision to expel Captain Atla comes as a reminder of increased government surveillance in a tight security region and signals their zero tolerance towards espionage, espionage, and international terrorism.

Revealed: How Ex-Naval Officer Was Honoured With “Pravasi Samman Award” Despite Selling Sensitive Data to Qatar’s Adversaries

Commander (Rtd) Purnendu Tiwari (Naval Officer), who played a key role in transferring critical data of a leading Gulf Muslim country to Israel and India, was honoured with the ‘Pravasi Samman Award’ (the Highest Overseas Indian Award from Indian President Ram Nath Kovind in 2019. However, while working with Qatar Defense, Security and other Government agencies; the now-retired officer had access to classified information which he shared with Qatar’s adversaries. India, like in the case of Kalbushan Yadav, was in a state of denial and has yet to acknowledge the actions of these 8 officers who were arrested by Qatar on October 25, 2022, on charges of spying for Israel. Wife of one of those officers sought help from Indian authorities to secure their release, but India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has remained mum on the allegations against him.