PM must intervene, not much time left: Sister of former Navy officer

LACK OF TRANSPARENCY in how eight former personnel of the Indian Navy have been tried in Qatar has undermined the faith of their families in the judicial process, Meetu Bhargava (54), sister of Commander Purnendu Tiwari (retired) who is among the eight on death row, told The Indian Express Sunday. She sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "personal intervention" to bring all eight Indians back, citing a shortage of time.

- RITIKA CHOPRA

After the news of the Qatari court decision broke Thursday, the toughest part for Bhargava was to inform her 85-year-old mother, the only surviving parent, about her brother's death sentence. "She is very upset. She's a heart patient," Bhargava said over the phone.

The families, she said, have met with the Navy Chief since Thursday and are likely to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar soon.