Parliamentary report says over 10,000 Indians imprisoned abroad, majority in Gulf Nations
NEW DELHI: A total of 10,152 Indian nationals are currently imprisoned across 86 countries, with the highest numbers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, according to the sixth report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, presented in Parliament on Tuesday.
The report, chaired by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, identified 12 countries, including China, Kuwait, Nepal, Qatar, and Malaysia, where most Indian prisoners are held. Saudi Arabia and the UAE each detain over 2,000 Indians, while Nepal has 1,317. Other Gulf nations, such as Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, also hold a significant number of Indian inmates. In China, 173 Indians are currently incarcerated.
The report notes that nine of these 12 countries have existing agreements with India on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, facilitating the repatriation of convicted individuals to serve their sentences in India.
Responding to committee inquiries, the Ministry of External Affairs stated that Indian missions regularly engage with local authorities to address prisoner repatriation and release.
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Vatican City (AP): Pope Francis was rolled into St Peter's Square in a wheelchair during a special Jubilee Mass for the sick, marking his first public appearance at the Vatican on Sunday since his release from the hospital two weeks ago.
The pontiff lifted his hands to wave at the crowd, who stood and applauded, as he was rolled to the front of the altar in the square.
“Good Sunday to everyone,'' the pope told the crowd. “Thank you very much.”
The pontiff's voice sounded stronger than when he addressed well-wishers outside of Gemelli hospital on the day of his release March 23, after battling life-threatening pneumonia during a five-week hospital stay.
