DNA:
Mumbai: Monday, October 29, 2012.
Indian techie
Bhavesh Parmar’s return has highlighted the plight of Indian prisoners in
Pakistan. But there are also 10,646 other Indians who’ve shared a similar
plight inprisons across the globe since 2000, an RTI query by Thane resident
and RTI activist Om Prakash Sharma to the ministry of external affairs has
revealed. It also reveals that 29 Indians were given the death penalty in
different countries during the same period for offences like drug running,
theft and murder.
“If you go by
figures available with international watchdog organisations, it’s clear that
India has the largest number of its citizens incarcerated abroad,” Sharma told
DNA. “The media glare on cases like Sarabjit Singh ensures that the government
attempts to at least show that it is taking action. But other prisoners and
their families struggle on their own, with no support forthcoming.”
Pakistan,
with 2,372 Indians in prison, is second to the UAE, where the numbers nearly
double at 4,315. Bangladesh follows with 2,008 Indians jailed, while Kuwait
with 1,161 comes fourth. This is followed by China, with 673 Indian inmates,
and Oman, with 429.
Incidentally,
the UAE has given as many as 21 Indians the death penalty since 2000, followed
by Kuwait with six death penalties, while Timor and Iran have executed one
Indian each.
When asked to
comment, MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin defended the ministry, “The MEA
extends every possible help to all Indian nationals, irrespective of where they
are. There is no prioritisation on the basis of which country they're
incarcerated in.”
Sharma points
out instances of how other countries go out of their way to help their
nationals caught in a similar predicament.
“Look at the
recent case of Italian marines who're facing trial in India over murder charges
after they shot dead two fishermen off the coast of Kerala in February this
year. Their government has gone out on a limb to help them and is even using
non-conventional tactics – like encouraging sporting events sponsored by
Italian brands – to create sympathy for the marines.”
He lamented:
“Indian authorities love to preen at the high table, calling the country an
equal among superpowers. But the real acid test is how much they value they
lives of their citizens. Even human rights activists, who hog the limelight
when it comes to cases like Sarabjit, never speak about imprisonment of other
Indians or the death penalties handed out.”
Don't want to
disturb him: Parmar's mother
A day after
32-year-old software engineer Bhavesh Parmar reached his Vile Parle home after
spending seven years in a Pakistani prison, his family is being very cautious.
They have decided not to talk to him or let him talk to anyone else either, his
mother Hansaben told DNA. She also said that it was too early to consult a
psychiatrist and that they were going to give Bhavesh time to adjust to life
back at home. 10,646: Indians jailed abroad since 2000.