7,737 Indians languishing in various jails of foreign countries: Govt
What's the story
As many as 7,737 Indians are languishing in various jails in foreign countries (till July 20, 2018), the Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh informed Lok Sabha today. Singh said that 541 Indians were in Nepal and 471 in Pakistan. The Indians imprisoned in the jails of Gulf countries was 4,604 as of May 2018, the Minister added. Here are more details.
Indian prisoners
Indian Mission provides assistance to facilitate people's return to India
Singh said wherever required, the Indian Mission and posts abroad provide airfare to facilitate the return of Indian prisoners who have completed their sentence. An amount of Rs. 2,72,24,969 was spent as assistance during Mar'15-Mar'18 in this regard, he said. He said 56 Indians were attacked in 13 countries in 2017; 31 Indians in 17 countries came under attack this year so far.
Repatriation
125 laborers, employees from Jharkhand were repatriated between 2016-2018
Singh said 125 laborers and employees from Jharkhand (4 in Afghanistan, one in Ethiopia, one in Iraq, 86 in Malaysia, 31 in Saudi Arabia, and two in Malawi) were repatriated between 2016 and 2018. He was replying to a question on the steps being taken by the government to ensure the safe return of Indians stuck in countries like Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.