Lok Sabha Question No. 623 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-19
Subject: Indian Prisoners Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: NISHIKANT  DUBEY, RAJESH PANDEY, INNOCENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.623 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2017

## INDIAN PRISONERS ABROAD

623.  SHRI NISHIKANT DUBEY: SHRI RAJESH PANDEY: SHRI INNOCENT:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of Indian prisoners in different countries;
- (b) whether the Government has taken action for their release; and
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  details  of  action  plan  of  the Government  with  the    counterparts  for  speedy  trials  and  quick judgement therein?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI M. J. AKBAR)

- (a) Due  to  the  strict  provisions  of  privacy  laws,  the  United  States  of America,  Canada,  Australia  and  many  countries  in  Europe  do  not  share information  about  Indian  nationals  in  their  prisons.  However,  as  per information available, 7448 Indian nationals are lodged in foreign jails in 81 countries.
- (b) & (c) 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/her welfare. Government of India provides legal assistance on means tested basis to deserving Indian nationals, including prisoners.  Government also provides help, advice and guidance ensuring fair  and  humane  treatment  in  foreign  jails,  repatriation  to  India  of  those who are released and issues emergency certificates. In some countries, our Missions also request the local governments for grant of amnesty to the arrested Indians and if any mercy petition for remission of sentences is received from the family members of the Indian prisoners, the concerned Mission  forwards  them  to  the  local  authorities  for  consideration.    A  list showing  country-wise  details  of  the  Indian  prisoners  is  attached  at the Annexure.

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## ANNEXURE

| Indian Prisoners Abroad   | Indian Prisoners Abroad   | Indian Prisoners Abroad   | Indian Prisoners Abroad   | Indian Prisoners Abroad   | Indian Prisoners Abroad   |
|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|
| Sl. No.                   | Name of Country           | Number of prisoners       | Sl. No.                   | Name of Country           | Number of prisoners       |
| 1.                        | Armenia                   | 1                         | 42                        | Malaysia                  | 304                       |
| 2.                        | Austria                   | 10                        | 43                        | Maldives                  | 11                        |
| 3.                        | Australia                 | 50                        | 44                        | Mauritius                 | 7                         |
| 4.                        | Azerbaijan                | 1                         | 45                        | Mexico                    | 2                         |
| 5.                        | Bahrain                   | 68                        | 46                        | Mozambique                | 5                         |
| 6.                        | Bangladesh                | 126                       | 47                        | Myanmar                   | 38                        |
| 7.                        | Belgium                   | 25                        | 48                        | Nepal                     | 852                       |
| 8.                        | Bhutan                    | 53                        | 49                        | Netherlands               | 1                         |
| 9.                        | Brunei Darussalam         | 1                         | 50                        | New Zealand               | 13                        |
| 10.                       | Cambodia                  | 5                         | 51                        | Niger                     | 1                         |
| 11.                       | Canada                    | 25                        | 52                        | Nigeria                   | 14                        |
| 12.                       | China                     | 225                       | 53                        | Oman                      | 101                       |
| 13.                       | Colombia                  | 5                         | 54                        | Pakistan                  | 468                       |
| 14.                       | Cote D' Ivoire            | 1                         | 55                        | Panama                    | 2                         |
| 15.                       | Croatia                   | 1                         | 56                        | Peru                      | 1                         |
| 16.                       | Cuba                      | 2                         | 57                        | Philippines               | 10                        |
| 17.                       | Cyprus                    | 3                         | 58                        | Portugal                  | 3                         |
| 18.                       | Denmark                   | 8                         | 59                        | Qatar                     | 160                       |
| 19.                       | Egypt                     | 3                         | 60                        | Romania                   | 2                         |
| 20.                       | Ethiopia                  | 2                         | 61                        | Russian Federation        | 4                         |
| 21.                       | Djibouti                  | 1                         | 62                        | Saudi Arabia              | 2046                      |
| 22.                       | Fiji                      | 2                         | 63                        | Senegal                   | 1                         |
| 23.                       | France                    | 13                        | 64                        | Seychelles                | 2                         |
| 24.                       | Germany                   | 54                        | 65                        | Singapore                 | 133                       |
| 25.                       | Ghana                     | 3                         | 66                        | Slovak Republic           | 1                         |
| 26.                       | Greece                    | 17                        | 67                        | South Africa              | 7                         |
| 27.                       | Guatemala                 | 4                         | 68                        | Spain                     | 21                        |
| 28.                       | Indonesia                 | 20                        | 69                        | Sri Lanka                 | 143                       |
| 29.                       | Iran                      | 28                        | 70                        | Suriname                  | 2                         |
| 30.                       | Iraq                      | 11                        | 71                        | Thailand                  | 48                        |
| 31.                       | Ireland                   | 3                         | 72                        | Trinidad &Tobago          | 1                         |
| 32.                       | Israel                    | 4                         | 73                        | Turkey                    | 2                         |
| 33.                       | Italy                     | 80                        | 74                        | Uganda                    | 1                         |
| 34.                       | Japan                     | 1                         | 75                        | United Arab Emirates      | 1376                      |
| 35.                       | Jordan                    | 1                         | 76                        | Ukraine                   | 1                         |
| 36.                       | Kenya                     | 2                         | 77                        | U.S.A                     | 281                       |
| 37.                       | Korea (Republic of)       | 4                         | 78                        | Uzbekistan                | 1                         |
| 38.                       | Kuwait                    | 506                       | 79                        | Vietnam                   | 1                         |
| 39.                       | Kyrgyzstan                | 1                         | 80                        | Yemen                     | 1                         |
| 40.                       | Lebanon                   | 7                         | 81                        | Zambia                    | 1                         |
| 41.                       | Libya                     | 2                         |                           |                           |                           |
|                           |                           |                           |                           | Total                     | 7448                      |

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