6,483 Indians in foreign jails: Centre

A total of 6,483 Indians are lodged in jails in 68 countries, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Wednesday.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, the minister said 322 Indian prisoners have completed their sentences, out of which 276 were in Pakistan, 43 in Bangladesh and three in Bahrain.

She said Indian missions in these countries had taken up with the respective governments the issue of speeding up various processes including exit visas and waiver of penalties for the speedy return of Indian nationals to the country.

The minister said where required, Indian missions also provide air tickets for facilitating the return of Indian prisoners who have completed their sentence.

According to data provided by the minister, there were 1,469 Indians in jails in Saudi Arabia, 822 in UAE, 612 in Nepal, 421 in Pakistan, 437 in the UK, 291 in the US, 274 in Kuwait, 257 in Bangladesh, 114 in China and 62 in Bhutan.

She said as per unconfirmed records available with the High Commission of India in Islamabad, 74 missing prisoners of war were languishing in Pakistani jails.