Lok Sabha Question No. 2 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Indian Prisoners Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAMCHARAN BOHARA, M. CHANDRAKASI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.11.2016

## INDIAN PRISONERS ABROAD

- † 2. SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA: SHRI M. CHANDRAKASI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of Indian prisoners languishing in foreign jails and the offence committed by them;
- (b) whether several Indian citizens are still in foreign prisons even after  the  completion  of  their  sentence  and  if  so,  the  details thereof, country-wise;
- (c) whether inhuman treatment is meted out to Indian prisoners in jails abroad;
- (d) if  so, the details thereof and the incidents that came to light during  the  last  three  years  including  the  measures  taken  by the Government in this regard;
- (e) the  details  of  help  provided  by  the  Government  to  Indian prisoners jailed abroad; and
- (f) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  step  to  bring  them back to the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) & (b) 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,  6489  Indian  nationals  are lodged  in foreign  jails  and  45  of  them  have  completed  their sentences and are awaiting release and repatriation. A list showing country-wise details is attached at Annexure.

(c) to (f) The Government is not aware of any inhuman treatment meted out to Indian prisoners in foreign prisons.

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. In some countries, where  pro  bono  lawyers  are  available,  the  Mission  arranges  legal assistance to the Indian prisoners. Government  of  India also provides  initial  legal  assistance  to  distressed  Indian  nationals  in deserving cases.

Steps taken by our Missions include requesting local authorities for speedy trials, seeking remission of sentence, providing advice and guidance in legal and other matters, ensuring fair  and  humane  treatment  in  foreign  jails,  issue  of  emergency certificates and repatriation to India of those who are released. In some countries, our Mission also requests the local government 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  Mission  forwards  them  to  the  local authorities for consideration. India has signed Treaties for Transfer of Sentenced  Persons  with 42 countries, under which Indian prisoners  have  been  brought  back  to  India  from  some  of  these countries.

In those cases where Indian nationals complete their sentences and are waiting for completion of deportation formalities, Indian  Missions  and  Posts  in  those  countries  take  up  with  the respective  foreign  governments  the  speeding  up  of  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 airfares for facilitating the return of the Indian prisoners who have completed their sentences, to India.

- *****

## ANNEXURE

| Indian Prisoners Abroad   | Indian Prisoners Abroad   | Indian Prisoners Abroad   | Indian Prisoners Abroad   |
|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|
| Country Name              | Number of Prisoners       | Country Name              | Number of Prisoners       |
| Angola                    | 10                        | Mauritius                 | 19                        |
| Armenia                   | 4                         | Mexico                    | 5                         |
| Australia                 | 56                        | Myanmar                   | 74                        |
| Austria                   | 10                        | Nepal                     | 859                       |
| Azerbaijan                | 2                         | Netherlands               | 17                        |
| Bahrain                   | 68                        | New Zealand               | 13                        |
| Bangladesh                | 122                       | Niger                     | 1                         |
| Belgium                   | 16                        | Nigeria                   | 13                        |
| Bhutan                    | 36                        | Oman                      | 109                       |
| Brunei                    | 1                         | Pakistan                  | 230                       |
| Cambodia                  | 3                         | Panama                    | 2                         |
| Canada                    | 18                        | Peru                      | 1                         |
| China                     | 63                        | Philippines               | 12                        |
| Colombia                  | 9                         | Poland                    | 2                         |
| Cuba                      | 1                         | Portugal                  | 5                         |
| Cyprus                    | 6                         | Qatar                     | 139                       |
| Denmark                   | 18                        | Romania                   | 2                         |
| Egypt                     | 3                         | Russian Fed.              | 5                         |
| Ethiopia                  | 2                         | Saudi Arabia              | 1653                      |
| Fiji                      | 2                         | Senegal                   | 1                         |
| France                    | 46                        | Seychelles                | 2                         |
| Germany                   | 59                        | Singapore                 | 96                        |
| Ghana                     | 1                         | Slovak Rep.               | 3                         |
| Guatemala                 | 5                         | South Africa              | 8                         |
| Indonesia                 | 21                        | South Koriea              | 1                         |
| Iran                      | 31                        | Spain                     | 11                        |
| Iraq                      | 4                         | Sri Lanka                 | 43                        |
| Ireland                   | 1                         | Suriname                  | 5                         |
| Israel                    | 10                        | Tanzania                  | 1                         |
| Italy                     | 79                        | Thailand                  | 60                        |
| Japan                     | 6                         | Togo                      | 6                         |
| Jordan                    | 1                         | UAE                       | 838                       |
| Kenya                     | 2                         | Uganda                    | 3                         |
| Kuwait                    | 459                       | UK                        | 4                         |
| Kygyzstan                 | 1                         | Ukraine                   | 1                         |
| Lebanon                   | 7                         | USA                       | 640                       |
| Libya                     | 1                         | Uzbekistan                | 1                         |
| Madagascar                | 3                         | Yemen                     | 2                         |
| Malaysia                  | 388                       | Zambia                    | 1                         |
| Maldives                  | 26                        | Total                     | 6489                      |