BATHINDA: The 10152 Indian nationals are lodged in prisons in 86 countries across the continents either as undertrials or convicted of various crimes.
Though most of the Indian nationals are lodged in foreign jails in Gulf Countries and other Asian countries yet they are also lodged in USA, UK and other European countries in big numbers.
There are 169 Indian nationals in USA jails, 288 in UK even as the maximum 2633 are in jails of Saudi Arabia followed by 2518 in UAE and 1317 in Nepal jails, as per the data provided by Kirti Vardhan Singh, union minister of state for external affairs in a written reply in Lok Sabha on Friday in response to a question by MP ET Mohammed Bashir.
On the lower side there are 5 each in jails in six countries, 4 each in eight countries, 3 each in six countries, 2 each in six countries and 1 each in foreign jails in 16 countries.
As per the data released, apart from Saudi Arabia, UAE and Nepal, there are 611 Indian national in jails in Qatar, 387 in Kuwait, 338 in Malaysia, 288 in UK, 266 in Pakistan, 181 in Bahrain, 173 in China, 169 in USA, 168 in Italy, 148 in Oman, 98 in Sri Lanka, 92 in Singapore, 69 in Bhutan, 45 each in France, Georgia, 44 in Philippines, 39 in Armenia, 37 in Thailand, 34 in Spain, 28 in Jordan, 27 each in Australia, Myanmar, Russia, 25 in Germany, 23 in Canada, 22 in Cambodia, 21 each in Cyprus, Indonesia, 18 in Iran, 14 in Cote d’ Ivoire,11 in Uganda, 10 each in Azerbaijan, Maldives, Mauritius, 9 in Belarus, 8 each in Afghanistan and South Africa, 7 in Poland, 6 each in Laos, Japan and Brunei, 5 each in Congo, Ireland, Malta, Mozambique, North Macedonia and Senegal, 4 each in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Israel, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Korea, Serbia and Vietnam, 3 each in Croatia, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Rwanda, Turkiye and Uzbekistan, 2 each in Angola, Cuba, Guatemala, Guinea, Lebanon, Morocco and 1 each in Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Iraq, Jamaica, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Trinad and Tobago and Zimbabwe.
Minister stated that the government attaches high priority to the safety, security and well-being of Indians in foreign countries, including those in the foreign jails. Indian Missions/Posts abroad remain vigilant and closely monitor the incidents of Indian nationals being put in jail in foreign countries for violation/ alleged violation of local laws.
As soon as the information about the detention/arrest of an Indian national is received by an Indian Mission/Post, it immediately gets in touch with the local Foreign Office and other concerned local authorities to get consular access to the detained/arrested Indian national to ascertain the facts of the case, confirm his or her Indian nationality and ensure his or her welfare. Missions/Posts remain vigilant to ensure that rights of the Indian prisoners in foreign jails are protected.
Apart from extending all possible consular assistance to Indians imprisoned abroad, Indian Missions and Posts also assist in providing legal aid wherever needed. Missions and Posts also maintain a local panel of lawyers where Indian community is in sizeable numbers. No fee is charged from any Indian prisoner for extending facilities by the Indian Embassy concerned. The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) is set up in Indian Missions and Posts abroad for assisting overseas Indian nationals in distress situations on a means tested basis in deserving cases. The support extended under ICWF includes financial assistance to Indian prisoners for legal aid as well as travel documents / air tickets during repatriation.
The issue of release and repatriation of Indian nationals in foreign prisons is regularly pursued by Indian Missions and Posts abroad with the local authorities concerned. Missions/Posts abroad also approach the law enforcement agencies to complete the investigation and judicial proceedings at the earliest possible. The Government also follows up this issue during consular and other consultations with other countries. In addition, the Government, through its Missions/Posts abroad and during high level visits, also takes up and pursues grant of amnesty/commutation of sentences of Indian prisoners in foreign countries. India has also entered into prisoner transfer treaties with many nations that allow a person convicted of a crime to be transferred to his or her home country to serve the prison sentence.
E T Mohammed Basheer had asked whether it has come to the notice of the government that a large number of Indians are boarded in jails in Qatar after the FIFA World cup; and the details of Indians who are behind bars in different countries as on date.
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