Lok Sabha Question No. 2367 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: Indians in Various Foreign Jails
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: CHINTAMANI MALVIYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2367

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2018

## INDIANS IN VARIOUS FOREIGN JAILS

## 2367.     PROF. CHINTAMANI MALVIYA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of Indians including fishermen languishing in various foreign jails at present, country-wise;
- (b) the number of Indian fishermen granted compensation after their release from foreign jails, particularly from Pakistani jails and the reasons for not giving compensation to some of them;
- (c) the   number   of   Indian   soldiers   illegally   detained   in   Pakistani   jails   at present along with the number of representations received from families of such prisoners for their early release and the action taken by the Government thereon;
- (d) whether any agreement had been signed between India and the UAE regarding completion of rest of the jail term by Indians in Indian prisons and if so, the number of Indians benefited by the said agreement; and
- (e) the effective steps taken for the release of all Indian prisoners at the earliest?

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## ANSWER [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) As per information available with the Ministry, as of 26.07.2018,  7737 Indians, including fishermen, are in various jails of foreign countries.  Countrywise details are at Annexure.  Due to the strict provisions of privacy laws, some countries do not readily share information about Indian nationals in their jails.
- (b) As   per   information   provided   by   Ministry   of   Agriculture   and   Farmers Welfare, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries had in March 2009 notified a Non-plan scheme of Soft Loan Package for Replacement of Fishing Vessels at a total cost of Rs.1956 lakhs.  This scheme envisages replacement of a total of 326 fishing vessels held captive in Pakistan.   Under this scheme, capital subsidy to the tune of 30% cost of each vessel subject to a ceiling of Rs.6 lakhs is provided to the each vessel owner for replacement of his/her fishing vessel seized in Pakistan.   The Marine Products Export Development Authority   (MPEDA),   Department   of   Commerce   has   been   designated   as   the implementing agency.

The   MPEDA   reports   that   out   of   192   verified   applicants,   125   Indian fishermen have been provided financial assistance by utilizing a sum of Rs.750 lakhs released till 2014 for replacement of fishing vessels seized in Pakistan and such another 67 verified applications are reported to be pending for settlement. An additional amount of Rs.110.00 lakhs has also been released to MPEDA, which includes release of Rs.10 lakhs in March 2018 and Rs.100 lakhs in May 2018.  This additional amount released is sufficient to cater to the demands of another about 18 beneficiaries.  The Department has requested for additional allocation under supplementary grant for 2018-19 under the scheme to settle

the balance 49 claims and the scheme would discontinue thereafter. (c) As per information available with the Ministry, it is believed that 83 Indian defence personnel are in Pakistan's custody, but their presence has not been acknowledged so far by Pakistan.  The Government regularly takes up the issue of early release and repatriation of missing defence personnel with Pakistan authorities through diplomatic channels. (d)                As per information received from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Transfer   of   Sentenced   Persons   Agreement   between   India   and   United   Arab Emirates (UAE) was signed in 2011, which came into force in March 2013 and so far no application has been received by them. (e)        As soon as the information about detention/arrest of an Indian national is received by an Indian Mission/Post, it gets in touch with the local Foreign Office   and   other   concerned   local   authorities   to   get   consular   access   to   the detained/arrested Indian national to confirm his Indian nationality and ensure his welfare. Legal Panels have been set up in Indian Missions and Posts abroad where   Indian   community   is   in   sizeable   numbers. Under   revised   Indian Community Welfare Fund guidelines, the scope of legal Assistance has also been broadened and is available in deserving cases. In those cases where Indian nationals complete their sentences and are waiting for completion of deportation formalities, Indian Missions/Posts in those countries take up with the respective foreign governments for speeding up the process including issue of final Exit Visas, waiver of penalties imposed on Indian workers, etc. from the concerned authorities and for the early return of the Indian nationals to India. Where required, the Indian Missions and Posts abroad also provide airfare for facilitating the return of the Indian prisoners who have completed their sentence.

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ANNEXURE

| S. No.   | Country             |   the number of Indians in foreign prisons reported including fishermen |
|----------|---------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1        | Afghanistan         |                                                                       1 |
| 2        | Armenia             |                                                                       5 |
| 3        | Australia           |                                                                      68 |
| 4        | Azerbaijan          |                                                                       7 |
| 5        | Bahrain             |                                                                      95 |
| 6        | Bangladesh          |                                                                      24 |
| 7        | Belarus             |                                                                       1 |
| 8        | Belgium             |                                                                      19 |
| 9        | Bhutan              |                                                                      69 |
| 10       | Brazil              |                                                                       2 |
| 11       | Brunei              |                                                                       1 |
| 12       | Cambodia            |                                                                       3 |
| 13       | Canada              |                                                                      70 |
| 14       | China               |                                                                     226 |
| 15       | Colombia            |                                                                       1 |
| 16       | Cote D' Ivoire      |                                                                       3 |
| 17       | Cuba                |                                                                       1 |
| 18       | Cyprus              |                                                                       6 |
| 19       | Denmark             |                                                                       5 |
| 20       | Egypt               |                                                                       1 |
| 21       | Ethiopia            |                                                                       2 |
| 22       | Fiji                |                                                                       1 |
| 23       | Finland             |                                                                       1 |
| 24       | France              |                                                                      41 |
| 25       | Germany             |                                                                      51 |
| 26       | Greece              |                                                                      27 |
| 27       | Guatemala           |                                                                       3 |
| 28       | Indonesia           |                                                                      19 |
| 29       | Iran                |                                                                       6 |
| 30       | Iraq                |                                                                       2 |
| 31       | Israel              |                                                                       4 |
| 32       | Italy               |                                                                     225 |
| 33       | Japan               |                                                                       7 |
| 34       | Jordan              |                                                                      23 |
| 35       | Kenya               |                                                                       3 |
| 36       | Korea (Republic of) |                                                                       2 |
| 37       | Kuwait              |                                                                     484 |
| 38       | Kyrgyzstan          |                                                                       1 |
| 39       | Lao PDR             |                                                                       2 |
| 40       | Lebanon             |                                                                       1 |
| 41       | Malaysia            |                                                                     298 |
| 42       | Mauritius           |                                                                       5 |
| 43       | Mexico              |                                                                       2 |
| 44       | Mozambique          |                                                                       5 |
| 45 46    | Myanmar Nepal       |                                                                      45 |
|          |                     |                                                                     548 |
| 47       | New Zealand         |                                                                      13 |
| 48       | Oman                |                                                                      71 |

| 49   | Pakistan             |   471 |
|------|----------------------|-------|
| 50   | Panama               |     1 |
| 51   | Philippines          |    19 |
| 52   | Poland, Lithuania    |     1 |
| 53   | Portugal             |     9 |
| 54   | Qatar                |   166 |
| 55   | Romania              |     2 |
| 56   | Russian Federation   |     3 |
| 57   | Saudi Arabia         |  1575 |
| 58   | Senegal              |     2 |
| 59   | Singapore            |   132 |
| 60   | Slovak Republic      |     1 |
| 61   | South Africa         |     3 |
| 62   | Spain                |    34 |
| 63   | Sri Lanka            |    43 |
| 64   | Sudan                |     3 |
| 65   | Switzerland          |     1 |
| 66   | Syria                |     4 |
| 67   | Tanzania             |     1 |
| 68   | Thailand             |    44 |
| 69   | Turkey               |     2 |
| 70   | Uganda               |     1 |
| 71   | United Arab Emirates |  1690 |
| 72   | United Kingdom       |   378 |
| 73   | Ukraine              |     1 |
| 74   | U.S.A                |   647 |
| 75   | Uzbekistan           |     1 |
| 76   | Vietnam              |     1 |
| 77   | Zimbabwe             |     1 |
|      | TOTAL                |  7737 |

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