Lok Sabha Question No. 75 (STARRED), answered on 2024-07-26
Subject: Attacks on Indian Students
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Benny Behanan, Shri Harish Chandra Meena

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO.  75

ANSWERED ON 26.07.2024

## ATTACKS ON INDIAN STUDENTS

## *75.  SHRI BENNY BEHANAN

## SHRI HARISH CHANDRA MEENA

Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Union Government is aware of the growing incidents of violence against Indian students abroad;
- (b) if so, the number of Indian students in foreign universities who have died during the last five years, country- wise; and
- (c) the measures taken/ being taken by the Government to investigate incidents of violence against Indian students abroad?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) in respect of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *75 for reply on 26.07.2024 regarding 'Attacks on Indian Students'.

(a) to (c): Data available with the Indian Missions/Posts abroad does not suggest an increase in violence against Indian students abroad in recent times.   The   list   of   the   total   number   of   Indian   students   in   foreign Universities who had died during the last five years, country-wise is attached at Annexure 'A' with mentions also of Indian students who died due to violence.

2. Providing safety and security to Indian students abroad is one of the top most priorities of the Government of India. Indian Missions/Posts abroad   maintain   regular   contacts   with   Indian   students   enrolled   in Universities   abroad.   This   commences   as   soon   as   the   new   Indian students, enrolled in foreign Universities, are invited to participate in Welcome Ceremony organised by Indian Missions/Posts abroad. Heads of Indian Missions/Posts organise Orientation Programmes and brief them on challenges and threats, if any, that they may confront during their stay in the foreign lands and how to take counter active measures. Heads of Indian Missions/Posts and other senior Embassy officials also visit foreign Universities and Educational Institutions in their respective

countries of accreditation to regularly interact with Indian students and Indian Students' Associations.

3. Indian   Missions/Posts   abroad   also   encourage   Indian   students travelling abroad for higher studies to register with them as also on the MADAD Portal so that their grievances and outstanding issues can be addressed   in   a   time   bound   manner.     Indian   Missions/Posts   abroad encourage Indian students to remain connected on a regular basis and make all possible efforts to respond to the outstanding issues faced by them  on a priority basis. The grievances of the students are responded to almost on a real time basis through telephone calls, walk-ins, emails, social media, 24x7 emergency helplines, open houses and the MADAD Portal.   Any complaint received from the Indian students abroad are taken   up   with   the   concerned   University/Institution   and   the   host Government, as the case may be for requisite action.

4. Cases of   untoward  incidents   are   immediately   taken   up   by   the Indian Missions/Posts abroad with the concerned authorities of the host country   to   ensure   that   they   are   properly   investigated   and   the perpetrators   are   punished.   During   emergencies   or   crisis   situations, Indian   Missions/Posts   abroad   pro-actively   help   distressed/stranded Indian students overseas by providing them food, shelter, medicines and ensure   their   return/evacuation   to   India   as   soon   as   possible.   Most

recently, stranded Indian students were evacuated to India through the Vande Bharat Mission, Operation Ganga (Ukraine) and Operation Ajay (Israel)  from countries around the world. The return of  many Indian students from Bangladesh was also facilitated by our High Commission. *****

## ANNEXURE -A

## Country wise inputs received on death cases of Indian students in the last 5 years

| S.No.       | Country    | Total number of Indian students death   |   Number of Deaths due to attacks |
|-------------|------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 1.          | Australia  | 57                                      |                                 1 |
| 2.          | Belgium    | 1                                       |                                 0 |
| 3.          | China      | 8                                       |                                 1 |
| 4.          | Canada     | 172                                     |                                 9 |
| 5. Egypt    | 2          |                                         |                                 0 |
| 6. Gaborone |            | 1                                       |                                 0 |
| 7.          | Germany    | 24                                      |                                 0 |
| 8.          | Italy      | 18                                      |                                 0 |
| 9.          | Ireland    | 2                                       |                                 0 |
| 10.         | Pakistan   | 1                                       |                                 0 |
| 11.         | Taiwan     | 4                                       |                                 0 |
| 12.         | Kazakhstan | 7                                       |                                 0 |
| 13.         | Kyrgyzstan | 12                                      |                                 1 |
| 14.         | Mauritius  | 1                                       |                                 0 |
| 15. New     | Zealand 6  |                                         |                                 0 |
| 16.         | Russia     | 37                                      |                                 0 |
| 17.         | Singapore  | 3                                       |                                 0 |
| 18.         | Qatar      | 6                                       |                                 0 |
| 19.         | Spain      | 3                                       |                                 0 |
| 20.         | Tajikistan | 1                                       |                                 0 |
| 21.         | Ukraine    | 18                                      |                                 0 |

| 22. UK          |   58 |   1 |
|-----------------|------|-----|
| 23. USA         |  108 |   6 |
| 24. UAE         |    3 |   0 |
| 25. Uzbekistan  |    2 |   0 |
| 26. Armenia     |    7 |   0 |
| 27. Georgia     |   12 |   0 |
| 28. Cyprus      |   12 |   0 |
| 29. South       |    2 |   0 |
| 30. Philippines |    7 |   0 |
| 31. Czech       |    1 |   0 |
| 32. Iran        |    1 |   0 |
| 33. Saudi       |   18 |   0 |
| 34. France      |    6 |   0 |
| 35. Finland     |    2 |   0 |
| 36. Hungary     |    1 |   0 |
| 37. Switzerland |    1 |   0 |
| 38. Moldova     |    2 |   0 |
| 39. South       |    1 |   0 |
| 40. Suriname    |    1 |   0 |
| 41. Netherlands |    4 |   0 |
| Total           |  633 |  19 |

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