Lok Sabha Question No. 2294 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-15
Subject: Indians Jailed Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: MD. BADARIDDOZA KHAN, SONA RAM CHOUDHARY, P. KUMAR, MOHAMMAD SALIM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2294 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2017

## INDIANS JAILED ABROAD

2294. SHRI MD. BADARUDDOZA KHAN: COL. SONARAM CHOUDHARY: SHRI P. KUMAR: SHRI MOHD. SALIM:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be please to state:

- (a) the  number  of  Indians  imprisoned  in  various  foreign  jails particularly in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the articles seized from them;
- (b)     the  details  of  various  mechanisms  to  check  them  cross International Border;
- (c)     whether the Government is aware of herdsmen rearing cattle on Indo-Pak border particularly the border adjoining Rajasthan being lodged in Pakistan jails and being awarded punishment by Pakistan courts, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government is taking any concrete action to get the Indian captives released and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (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,  7059  Indian  nationals  are  lodged  in foreign  jails.  A  list  showing  country-wise  details  is  attached  at Annexure.  Various articles seized from them include VOIP set along with SIM cards, fake passports, narcotic drugs, fake currency, boats, GPS, stimulating tablets, foreign currency and gold.

(b)     Our  immigration  authorities  and  security  forces  monitor  the movement across the international borders of the country. (c) There are two prisoners from Rajasthan in the jails in Pakistan who are not herdsmen. (d) 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 their Indian nationality and ensure their 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.

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ANNEXURE

|   Sl No. | Name of Country     |   Indian imprisoned in various foreign jails |
|----------|---------------------|----------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Armenia             |                                            1 |
|        2 | Austria             |                                            5 |
|        3 | Australia           |                                           61 |
|        4 | Azerbaijan          |                                            2 |
|        5 | Bangladesh          |                                           39 |
|        6 | Belgium             |                                           15 |
|        7 | Bhutan              |                                           45 |
|        8 | Cambodia            |                                            4 |
|        9 | Canada              |                                           72 |
|       10 | China               |                                          203 |
|       11 | Cote D' Ivoire      |                                            1 |
|       12 | Cuba                |                                            1 |
|       13 | Cyprus              |                                            2 |
|       14 | Denmark             |                                            8 |
|       15 | Egypt               |                                            1 |
|       16 | Ethiopia            |                                            2 |
|       17 | Fiji                |                                            2 |
|       18 | Ghana               |                                            2 |
|       19 | Germany             |                                          114 |
|       20 | Indonesia           |                                           21 |
|       21 | Iran                |                                           74 |
|       22 | Iraq                |                                            2 |
|       23 | Ireland             |                                            1 |
|       24 | Israel              |                                            4 |
|       25 | Italy               |                                          228 |
|       26 | Japan               |                                            6 |
|       27 | Jordan              |                                            2 |
|       28 | Kenya               |                                            2 |
|       29 | Korea (Republic of) |                                            1 |
|       30 | Kuwait              |                                          520 |
|       31 | Kyrgyzstan          |                                            1 |
|       32 | Lebanon             |                                            7 |
|       33 | Libya               |                                            1 |
|       34 | Malawi              |                                            1 |
|       35 | Malaysia            |                                          342 |
|       36 | Maldives            |                                            9 |
|       37 | Mauritius           |                                            6 |
|       38 | Mexico              |                                            2 |
|       39 | Mozambique          |                                            2 |
|       40 | Myanmar             |                                          123 |

| 41                   | Nepal   |   950 |
|----------------------|---------|-------|
| Netherlands          | 1       |    42 |
| Nicaragua            | 1       |    43 |
| Nigeria              | 1       |    44 |
| Oman                 | 99      |    45 |
| Pakistan             | 362     |    46 |
| Panama               | 2       |    47 |
| Philippines          | 10      |    48 |
| Portugal             | 4       |    49 |
| Qatar                | 159     |    50 |
| Russia               | 5       |    51 |
| Saudi Arabia         | 1709    |    52 |
| Singapore            | 86      |    53 |
| Slovak Republic      | 1       |    54 |
| South Africa         | 7       |    55 |
| Spain                | 33      |    56 |
| Sri Lanka            | 101     |    57 |
| Suriname             | 3       |    58 |
| Thailand             | 46      |    59 |
| Togo                 | 1       |    60 |
| Uganda               | 2       |    61 |
| UK                   | 2       |    62 |
| Ukraine              | 1       |    63 |
| United Arab Emirates | 1214    |    64 |
| U.S.A                | 322     |    65 |
| Uzbekistan           | 1       |    66 |
| Yemen                | 1       |    67 |
|                      | Total   |  7059 |

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