Nearly 8,000 Indian prisoners lodged in foreign jails, most in Saudi Arabia: MEA

Nearly 8,000 Indian prisoners, including under trials, are lodged in various jails across 82 countries, the Ministry of External Affairs has informed the Parliament.

Nearly 8,000 Indian prisoners, including under trials, are lodged in various jails across 82 countries, the Ministry of External Affairs has informed the Parliament. Of them, 4058 prisoners are in the six Gulf countries and Iran, where Indians have traditionally thronged for better employment opportunities. According to the MEA, 267 Indian prisoners are lodged in the US and 373 in the UK. Eleven countries have more than 100 Indians in their prisons. The highest number of convicts and under trials of Indian origin are in Saudi Arabia, with 1570 prisoners. It is followed by the United Arab Emirates, with 1292 Indian inmates. There are 460 Indians lodged in prisons in Kuwait, 439 in Qatar, 178 in Bahrain, 70 in Iran and 49 in Oman, according to MEA records.