Lok Sabha Question No. 1928 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-03
Subject: Indians in Foreign Prisons
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1928 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.07.2019

## INDIANS IN FOREIGN PRISONS

## 1928.     SHRI MANOJ KOTAK:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that 8000 Indian Nationals are languishing in foreign prisons;
- (b) if   so,   the   details   thereof   along   with   the   efforts   made   by   the Government to have inter-ministerial/ Governmental meetings for repatriation of these prisoners; and
- (c) the details of use of Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) by Indian Missions for repatriation of Indian prisoners, country, person and percentage-wise during the last three years and the current year?

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

## [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) & (b) As per the information available with the Ministry, the number of Indian prisoners in foreign jails as of 31.05.2019 is 8189 which also includes under-trials. Country-wise list is given at Annexure. However, due to strong privacy laws prevailing in many countries, the local authorities do   not   share   information   on   prisoners   unless   the   person   concerned consents to the disclosure of such information. Even countries which share information   do   not   generally   provide   detailed   information   about   the people of foreign countries imprisoned.

Indian Missions/Posts abroad remain vigilant and closely monitor the incidents   of   Indian   nationals   being   put   in   jail   in   foreign   countries   for violation   of   local   laws   or   alleged   violation   of   local   laws.   Apart   from extending them all possible consular assistance, 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.

The issue of repatriation of Indian nationals in foreign prisons is regularly   pursued  by   Indian   Missions   and   Posts   abroad   with   the   local authorities concerned.  The Government also follows up this issue during consular and other consultations with other countries, including in the context of bilateral agreements for Transfer of Sentenced Persons [TSP] wherever applicable.   Inter-Ministerial  meetings on this issue are also convened, as necessary, between Ministries of External Affairs and Home Affairs.

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. Since 2016 till present, in the countries in Gulf region, a total of 3087 Indian nationals have received amnesty or commutation of their sentences.

(c) The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) is set up in Indian Missions & Posts abroad for assisting overseas Indian nationals in distress situations   on   a   means   tested   basis   in   deserving   cases.   The   support extended under ICWF includes air passage to stranded overseas Indians. However, no specific data with regard to repatriation of Indian prisoners through ICWF is maintained in the Ministry.

2

| S.No   | Name of Country    | ANNEXURE Number of Indians in foreign jails as on 31.5.2019   |
|--------|--------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1      | Afghanistan        | Nil                                                           |
| 2      | Algeria            | Nil                                                           |
| 3      | Angola             | Nil                                                           |
| 4      | Argentina          | Nil                                                           |
| 5      | Armenia            | 9                                                             |
| 6      | Austria            |                                                               |
| 7      | Australia          | 5 78                                                          |
| 8      | Azerbaijan         | 3                                                             |
| 9      | Bahrain            | 134                                                           |
| 10     | Belarus            | 1                                                             |
| 11     | Bangladesh         | 58                                                            |
| 12     | Belgium            | 12                                                            |
| 13     | Bhutan             | 53                                                            |
| 14     | Botswana           | Nil                                                           |
| 15     | Brazil             | 2                                                             |
| 16     | Brunei             | 1                                                             |
| 17     | Bulgaria           | Nil                                                           |
| 18     | Cambodia           | 3                                                             |
| 19     | Canada             | 70                                                            |
| 20     | Chile              |                                                               |
| 21     | China              | Nil                                                           |
| 22     |                    | 270 4                                                         |
| 23     | Congo              |                                                               |
| 24     | Colombia Cote D'   | 5 1                                                           |
| 25     | Ivoire Croatia     | Nil                                                           |
| 26     | Cuba               | 1                                                             |
| 27     | Cyprus             | 11                                                            |
| 28     | Czech              | Nil                                                           |
| 29     | Republic Denmark   | 5                                                             |
| 30     | Egypt              | 2                                                             |
| 31 32  | Ethiopia Fiji      | Nil 1                                                         |
| 33     | Finland            | 1                                                             |
| 34     | France             | 38                                                            |
| 35     | Germany Ghana      | 59                                                            |
| 36     | Guatemala          | 1 2                                                           |
| 37     |                    |                                                               |
| 38     | Guyana             | Nil                                                           |
| 39     | Hungary Iceland    | 3 Nil                                                         |
| 40     |                    |                                                               |
| 41     | Indonesia          | 19                                                            |
| 42     | Iran Iraq          | 18 4                                                          |
| 43     |                    |                                                               |
| 44 45  | Ireland Israel     | Nil 7                                                         |
| 46     | Italy              | 242                                                           |
| 47 48  | Jamaica Japan      | Nil 7                                                         |
| 49     | Jordan             | 25                                                            |
| 50     | Kazakhstan         |                                                               |
| 51     | Kenya              | Nil Nil                                                       |
| 52     | Korea (DPR)        | Nil                                                           |
| 53 54  | Korea (Republic    | 3                                                             |
|        | of) Kuwait         | 511                                                           |
| 55     | Kyrgyzstan         | 2                                                             |
| 56 57  | Laos PDR           | 2                                                             |
| 58     | Lebanon            | 5                                                             |
| 59     | Libya Madagascar   | Nil                                                           |
| 60     | Malawi             | 15 Nil                                                        |
| 61     |                    | 576                                                           |
| 62 63  | Malaysia Maldives  | 14 Nil                                                        |
| 64     | Mali               |                                                               |
| 65     | Malta              | 1                                                             |
|        | Mauritius          | 4                                                             |
| 66     |                    | 2                                                             |
| 67     | Mexico Morocco     | Nil                                                           |
| 68     |                    | Nil                                                           |
| 69     | Mongolia           | 6                                                             |
|        |                    | 61                                                            |
| 70     | Mozambique Myanmar |                                                               |
| 71     | Namibia            | NIL                                                           |
|        |                    | 1160                                                          |
| 72     | Nepal              |                                                               |

| 73    | Netherlands               | 1       |
|-------|---------------------------|---------|
| 74    | New Zealand               | 13      |
| 75    | Niger                     | Nil     |
| 76    | Nigeria                   | 1       |
| 77    | Norway                    | Nil     |
| 78    | Oman                      | 101     |
| 79    | Pakistan                  | 48      |
| 80    | Palestine                 | Nil     |
| 81    | Panama                    | 1       |
| 82    | Papua New Guinea          | Nil     |
| 83    | Peru                      | Nil     |
| 84    | Philippines               | 34      |
| 85    | Poland                    | 5       |
| 86    | Portugal                  | 5       |
| 87    | Qatar                     | 257     |
| 88    | Romania                   | Nil     |
| 89    | Russia                    | 6       |
| 90    | Saudi Arabia              | 1811    |
| 91    | Serbia                    | Nil     |
| 92    | Senegal                   | Nil     |
| 93    | Seychelles                | Nil     |
| 94 95 | Singapore Slovak Republic | 111 Nil |
| 96    | Slovenia                  | 2       |
| 97    | South Africa              | 6       |
| 98    | South Sudan               | Nil     |
| 99    | Spain                     | 21      |
| 100   | Sri Lanka                 | 111     |
| 101   | Sudan                     | Nil     |
| 102   | Suriname                  | Nil     |
| 103   | Sweden                    | 2       |
| 104   | Switzerland               | Nil     |
| 105   | Syria                     | Nil     |
| 106   | Tajikistan                | Nil     |
| 107   | Tanzania                  | 1       |
| 108   | Thailand                  | 44      |
| 109   | Trinidad & Tobago         | Nil     |
| 110   | Tunisia                   | Nil     |
| 111   | Turkey                    | 2       |
| 112   | Turkmenistan              | Nil     |
| 113   | Uganda                    | 1       |
| 114   | United Arab Emirates      | 1392    |
| 115   | United Kingdom            | 6       |
| 116   | Venezuela                 | Nil     |
| 117   | Vietnam                   | Nil     |
| 118   | United States of America  | 689     |
| 119   | Uzbekistan                | Nil     |
| 120   | Venezuela                 | Nil     |
| 121   | Vietnam                   | 1       |
| 122   | Zambia                    | Nil     |
| 123   | Zimbabwe                  | Nil     |
|       | Total                     | 8189    |

***