10,152 Indian Citizens Imprisoned Worldwide
Indian Prisoners Across the Globe: Key Statistics and Insights
The Indian government has revealed that a total of 10,152 Indian citizens are imprisoned across various countries worldwide. This number includes both under-trial prisoners (those awaiting trial) and convicted prisoners (those who have been sentenced).
The country with the highest number of imprisoned Indian citizens is Saudi Arabia, where 2,633 Indians are incarcerated. The United States has 169 Indian citizens in its prisons, but it is noteworthy that 104 Indian citizens were deported by the U.S. just last week, with more Indian citizens expected to be deported in the near future.
In neighboring countries, the situation varies. Pakistan holds 266 Indian citizens in its jails, while Nepal has 1,317 Indians imprisoned. Sri Lanka has 98 Indian citizens in prison, and Bangladesh holds only 4 Indian citizens. China has 173 Indian prisoners, while Bhutan has 69 Indian citizens incarcerated.
In response to a question raised by Saket Gokhale, a member of the Trinamool Congress, about the number of Indian citizens imprisoned globally, Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan, provided these statistics in the Rajya Sabha (Indian Parliament).
The total of 10,152 Indian prisoners includes 2,684 under-trial prisoners. These are individuals who have been arrested but not yet tried. Among these, the highest number of under-trial prisoners are in Saudi Arabia, with 1,226 under-trial Indian citizens. In the UAE, 294 Indian citizens are under-trial.
The Minister of State also mentioned that due to the confidentiality laws of many countries, detailed information about these prisoners is often not made public unless the individual gives their consent. Countries that do share information typically provide limited details about their imprisoned citizens.
When it comes to Indian under-trial prisoners in neighboring countries, Pakistan has 27 Indian citizens held as under-trial prisoners. Similarly, Bangladesh has 4, Bhutan has 8, Sri Lanka has 44, and Myanmar has 6 Indian citizens who are under-trial. China holds 95 under-trial Indian citizens in its jails.
The government also highlighted that while some countries are more open in sharing such information, others maintain strict confidentiality, making it difficult to get precise data about their detained citizens.
