6290 Indians Are In Prison In 72 Countries : Minister VK Singh

19 March , New Delhi

Total 6290 Indian nationals are detained in 72 countries as of now , said the Minister of State for External affairs VK Singh.

Singh informed Rajya Sabha Thursday that the largest number of 1508 are in prisons in Saudi Arabia followed by 785 in the United Arab Emirates, 614 in Nepal, 437 in UK, 291 in the USA, 290 in Kuwait, 223 in Bangladesh, 117 in China and 106 in Bahrain.

The number of prisoners lodged in Pakistani jails is 352 and 73 in Sri Lanka Singh said.

He said , India has signed bilateral agreements for transfer of sentenced prisoners with 20 countries to serve their sentences at home. In addition, agreements with the Organisation of American States have also been signed for repatriation of Indian prisoners Singh said.

So far, 54 Indian prisoners have benefited from these agreements between India and other countries. Out of these, 45 Indian prisoners have been brought back from abroad and 9 foreign prisoners in India have been repatriated to their countries to serve the remainder of their sentences, he said.