Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 25: A total of 10,574 Indian citizens are currently imprisoned in foreign jails, including 43 who are on death row, the Parliament was informed on Friday. The data was shared by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) tops the list with 2,773 Indian nationals in its prisons, followed by Saudi Arabia with 2,379 inmates and Nepal with 1,357. Other countries with a significant number of Indian prisoners include Qatar (795), Malaysia (380), Kuwait (342), the UK (323), Bahrain (261), Pakistan (246), and China (183).
On the other hand, countries such as Angola, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Egypt, Iraq, Jamaica, Mauritius, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Sudan, Tajikistan, and Yemen each have only one Indian prisoner.
Among the 43 Indians facing capital punishment abroad, 21 are in the UAE, 7 in Saudi Arabia, 4 in China, 3 in Indonesia, and 2 in Kuwait. One Indian each is on death row in the USA, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, and Yemen.
The Ministry of External Affairs clarified that due to privacy regulations in many countries, full details of foreign prisoners are not always accessible unless the individuals themselves permit disclosure. However, Indian embassies and consulates continue to provide legal and consular support to affected citizens.
Government assistance includes legal aid, consular access, and efforts toward early release or repatriation through bilateral discussions and judicial channels. The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) is also being used to offer financial and legal assistance, particularly in needy cases.
Additionally, the government is pursuing diplomatic efforts for the release of 28 Indian fishermen detained in Sri Lanka—27 from Tamil Nadu and one from Puducherry.
With growing concerns over the welfare of Indians overseas, the government reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of its diaspora through sustained diplomatic engagement.