LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1756
TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.02.2019
INDIANS LODGED IN JAILS OF GULF COUNTRIES
1756. SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that a large number of Indians are lodged in jail in the Gulf Countries;
(b) if so, the details thereof, country and State-wise;
(c) the details of action being taken by the Government to get them released and deported to India;
(d) whether it is a fact that the Indian Embassy concerned has charged any fee for extending facilities to such persons; and
(e) if so, the reasons therefor and the steps taken to give services and facilities to such persons, who are mostly poor, free of cost?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) & (b) As per information available with the Ministry, 4705 Indian nationals are in prisons in Gulf countries, as shown in Annexure.
(c) to (e) Our Missions and Posts abroad extend all possible help and assistance to the imprisoned Indian nationals including when they are detained by local police/immigration authorities or put in prisons for violation of local laws. Apart from extending
them all possible consular services, Indian Missions and Posts abroad also assist in extending legal aid wherever needed. Missions and Posts also maintain a local panel of lawyers where Indian community is in sizeable numbers. Legal assistance is also provided
to Indian nationals abroad including those in prison on a means tested basis through the Indian Community Welfare Fund. No fee is charged by our Missions and Posts abroad in such cases.
|
S. No.
|
Name of Country
|
Number of Indians in Prisons
|
|
1
|
Bahrain
|
121
|
|
2
|
Kuwait
|
483
|
|
3
|
Oman
|
59
|
|
4
|
Qatar
|
212
|
|
5
|
Saudi Arabia
|
2224
|
|
6
|
United Arab Emirates
|
1606
|
|
Total
|
4705
|
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