NEW DELHI : Over 6,200 Indians are currently languishing in jails in 72 countries with maximum of 1,508 being lodged in Saudi Arabia.
Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh, replying to a question in Rajya Sabha, said a total of 6,290 Indian citizens including fishermen have been imprisoned in foreign jails.
He said India has signed bilateral agreements for transfer of sentenced persons with 20 countries and a total of 45 Indians have been brought back from prisons abroad under provisions of the pacts.
Singh said a maximum of 1,508 Indians are lodged in jails in Saudi Arabia, followed by 785 in the United Arab Emirates, 614 in Nepal, 437 in the United Kingdom and 352 in Pakistan.
As per figures provided by the Minister, a total of 2,909 Indians are languishing in jails of nine Gulf countries including Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Yemen.
The number of Indians lodged in China is 117 while 223 people are languishing in jails in Bangladesh, 145 in Italy, 319 in Malaysia, 158 in Singapore and 291 in prisons in the US.
Indians are also lodged in jails in various other countries including Australia, Cyprus, Egypt, Japan, Denmark, France, Greece and Mauritius.
Replying to a separate question, Singh said Indian citizens born in Nagaland and Jammu and Kashmir are generally not covered for passport under Tatkal scheme.
However, he said Tatkal applications are accepted for certain categories of individuals such as those were issued diplomatic passports, minor children up to age of 10 years if either of his or her parent holds a valid passport. (AGENCIES)
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