Lok Sabha Question No. 348 (STARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: Victimization of Indians in Foreign Countries
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: GOPAL CHINAYYA SHETTY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.348

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2016

## VICTIMIZATION OF INDIANS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

- † *348. SHRI GOPAL SHETTY:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  families  of  Indian  origin  residing  in  Afghanistan  and other countries have been victimised by the local army/civilians during  the  last  three  years  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof, country-wise;
- (b) the number of houses of Indians looted, the number of persons/ families asked to leave the country and the number of Indians out of those who returned to India during the said period;
- (c) the steps taken for the safety of the life and property of Indians in these countries including Afghanistan; and
- (d) the  number  of  persons  of  Indian  origin  who  returned  to  the country in the wake of disruption of peace process in Afghanistan and other countries and the amount of assistance and facilities provided to them?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI SUSHMA SWARAJ)

- (a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  to  (d)  OF  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 348 REGARDING 'VICTIMIZATION OF INDIANS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES' FOR ANSWER ON 10.08.2016

(a) to (d) No  instance  of  victimization  of  families  of  Indian  origin  residing  in Afghanistan and other countries by local army / civilian population has come to notice during  last  three  years.  However,  there  have  been  abductions  and  attacks  on  Indian nationals by terrorist groups in Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen and Iraq.

The Government have extended to individuals belonging to religious minorities, such  as  Hindus,  Sikhs,  Jains,  Buddhists,  etc.  and  facing  religious  persecution  in Afghanistan,  Pakistan  and  Bangladesh,  the  facility  of  Long  Term  Visa  (LTV)  which provides for their prolonged stay in India. The number of such individuals during 20122014 is summarized below:

| Number of Registered Refugees/Foreigners on LTV in India (figures as on December 31 st of each year)   | Number of Registered Refugees/Foreigners on LTV in India (figures as on December 31 st of each year)   | Number of Registered Refugees/Foreigners on LTV in India (figures as on December 31 st of each year)   | Number of Registered Refugees/Foreigners on LTV in India (figures as on December 31 st of each year)   | Number of Registered Refugees/Foreigners on LTV in India (figures as on December 31 st of each year)   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S.No.                                                                                                  | Country                                                                                                | 2012                                                                                                   | 2013                                                                                                   | 2014                                                                                                   |
| 1.                                                                                                     | Afghanistan                                                                                            | 18,730                                                                                                 | 10,340                                                                                                 | 2,736                                                                                                  |
| 2.                                                                                                     | Bangladesh                                                                                             | 1,45,561                                                                                               | 1,55,761                                                                                               | 1,51,101                                                                                               |
| 3.                                                                                                     | Pakistan                                                                                               | 47                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                      | 10,179                                                                                                 |

Recently, the Government have also decided to extend various other facilities to such  individuals  holding  LTVs.  These  include  permission,  without  RBI  approval,  to open bank accounts and purchase of dwelling unit for self occupation or for carrying out self employment, subject to fulfilment of certain conditions. Such individuals may also be issued PAN cards, Driving Licenses and AADHAR cards, and may also take up self-employment and engage in business considered safe from security point of view.

The Government of India attaches utmost priority to  regularly  monitoring  the evolving security situation in various countries where it is so required. Whenever there have been serious threats to the safety and security of Indian nationals in war affected countries,  the  Government  has  made  extensive  efforts  to  enable  the  evacuation  of Indians  from  such  countries.  Our  diplomatic  Missions  issue  advisories  whenever required and regularly engage the security agencies in the countries concerned to assess emerging  threats  to  the  lives  and  properties  of  Indian  nationals.  Where  required, arrangements  are  also  made,  under  the  aegis  of  the  Indian  diplomatic  Missions,  to provide shelter and other necessary arrangements to victimized Indians abroad.