Lok Sabha Question No. 4931 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-01
Subject: Indian Prisoners in Foreign Jails
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Alok Kumar Suman, E. T. Mohammed Basheer

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4931 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.04.2022

## INDIAN PRISONERS IN FOREIGN JAILS

## 4931.   DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN:

## SHRI E.T. MOHAMMED BASHEER:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether   a   large   number   of   Indian   prisoners   are   languishing   in foreign jails for very long period;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, country-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any measures to bring back the Indians who are in foreign jails and to expedite the process in this regard;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the number of prisoners exchanged by India during the last two years and current year, country-wise?

## 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, including under-trials, in foreign jails at present is 8278, out of which 156 are serving life sentence. Country-wise list is given at Annexure - I. 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 foreigners imprisoned.

(c)   &   (d)   The   Government   attaches   the   highest   priority   to   the safety,   security   and   well-being   of   Indians   in   foreign   countries, including   those   in   the   foreign   jails.   Indian   Missions   /   Posts   abroad remain   vigilant   and   closely   monitor   the   incidents   of   Indian   nationals being put in jail in foreign countries for violation/ alleged violation of local laws.

As soon as the information about the detention/arrest of an Indian national is received by an Indian Mission/Post, it immediately gets in touch with the local Foreign Office and other concerned local authorities to get consular access to the detained/arrested Indian national to ascertain the facts of the case, confirm his Indian nationality and ensure his welfare. 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.

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.

(e) From January, 2020 till February, 2022, 2 Indian nationals have been transferred   from   Sri   Lanka   to   India,   1   German   national   has   been transferred from India to Germany and 2 Bangladeshi nationals have been transferred from India to Bangladesh under the Repatriation of Prisoners Act, 2003 to serve the remainder of their sentence.

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Annexure - I Lok Sabha FAQ 4931 - Indian Prisoners In Foreign Jails

|   Sl. No. | Country       |   Number of In- dians in for- eign jails |   Number of Indians serving life sentence |
|-----------|---------------|------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Albania       |                                        1 |                                         0 |
|         2 | Argentina     |                                        1 |                                         1 |
|         3 | Australia     |                                       80 |                                         3 |
|         4 | Austria       |                                        6 |                                         2 |
|         5 | Azerbaijan    |                                        4 |                                         0 |
|         6 | Bahrain       |                                      163 |                                        13 |
|         7 | Bangladesh    |                                       50 |                                         0 |
|         8 | Belarus       |                                        2 |                                         0 |
|         9 | Belgium       |                                       12 |                                         0 |
|        10 | Bhutan        |                                       70 |                                         4 |
|        11 | Cambodia      |                                        5 |                                         0 |
|        12 | Cameroon      |                                        1 |                                         0 |
|        13 | Canada        |                                       23 |                                         0 |
|        14 | Chile         |                                        1 |                                         0 |
|        15 | China         |                                      195 |                                        13 |
|        16 | Congo         |                                        1 |                                         0 |
|        17 | Côte d'Ivoire |                                        5 |                                         0 |
|        18 | Cuba          |                                        1 |                                         0 |
|        19 | Cyprus        |                                       20 |                                         1 |
|        20 | Denmark       |                                        4 |                                         1 |
|        21 | Ecuador       |                                        3 |                                         0 |
|        22 | Egypt         |                                        2 |                                         1 |
|        23 | Fiji          |                                        1 |                                         0 |
|        24 | France        |                                       29 |                                         0 |
|        25 | Georgia       |                                       12 |                                         0 |
|        26 | Germany       |                                       76 |                                         0 |
|        27 | Ghana         |                                        1 |                                         0 |
|        28 | Greece        |                                       22 |                                         0 |
|        29 | Indonesia     |                                       32 |                                         1 |

|   30 | Iran                |    7 |   0 |
|------|---------------------|------|-----|
|   31 | Iraq                |    3 |   0 |
|   32 | Israel              |    6 |   1 |
|   33 | Italy               |  437 |   0 |
|   34 | Japan               |    6 |   1 |
|   35 | Jordan              |   11 |   1 |
|   36 | Kenya               |    1 |   0 |
|   37 | Kuwait              |  458 |  28 |
|   38 | Kyrgyzstan          |    2 |   0 |
|   39 | Laos                |    2 |   0 |
|   40 | Lebanon             |    3 |   0 |
|   41 | Madagascar          |   11 |   0 |
|   42 | Malawi              |    1 |   0 |
|   43 | Malaysia            |  294 |  47 |
|   44 | Maldives            |   10 |   1 |
|   45 | Mauritius           |    7 |   0 |
|   46 | Mexico              |    1 |   1 |
|   47 | Morocco             |    1 |   0 |
|   48 | Mozambique          |    7 |   0 |
|   49 | Myanmar             |   39 |   0 |
|   50 | Nepal               | 1112 |   0 |
|   51 | North Macedonia     |    3 |   0 |
|   52 | Oman                |   68 |  12 |
|   53 | Pakistan            |  701 |   1 |
|   54 | Paraguay            |    1 |   0 |
|   55 | Philippines         |   35 |   0 |
|   56 | Poland              |    6 |   1 |
|   57 | Portugal            |   11 |   0 |
|   58 | Qatar               |  473 |   7 |
|   59 | Republic of Ireland |    1 |   0 |
|   60 | Republic of Korea   |    8 |   0 |
|   61 | Romania             |    3 |   0 |
|   62 | Russia              |   15 |   0 |
|   63 | Saudi Arabia        | 1392 |   0 |
|   64 | Senegal             |    4 |   0 |
|   65 | Serbia              |    3 |   0 |
|   66 | Singapore           |  119 |   1 |

| 67   | Slovakia               |    1 |   0 |
|------|------------------------|------|-----|
| 68   | Slovenia               |    2 |   0 |
| 69   | South Africa           |    4 |   1 |
| 70   | Spain                  |   40 |   0 |
| 71   | Sri Lanka              |   16 |   5 |
| 72   | Sweden                 |    1 |   0 |
| 73   | Tanzania               |    1 |   0 |
| 74   | Thailand               |   18 |   1 |
| 75   | Trinidad and Tobago    |    2 |   0 |
| 76   | Uganda                 |    1 |   0 |
| 77   | United Arab Emi- rates | 1480 |   5 |
| 78   | United Kingdom         |  373 |   0 |
| 79   | USA                    |  252 |   2 |
| 80   | Vietnam                |    1 |   0 |
| 81   | Yemen                  |    1 |   0 |
|      | Total                  | 8278 | 156 |

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