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QUESTION NO.498 PEOPLE FROM RAJASTHAN IN JAILS OF PAKISTAN

July 20, 2017

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.498
TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2017

PEOPLE FROM RAJASTHAN IN JAILS OF PAKISTAN

†498. SHRI OM PRAKASH MATHUR:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether people hailing from the districts of Rajasthan like Jaisalmer, Barmer and Ganga Nagar situated along international border have inadvertently crossed over to Pakistan during previous decades and currently languishing in prisons over there, if so, the number thereof;

(b) whether many of them have been released by Pakistan Government and whether there are any instances where problems are being faced in bringing them back as they have already been declared dead; and

(c) whether the Central Government have taken any concrete steps to bring them back, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) to (c) As per the list provided by the Government of Pakistan on July 1, 2017 under bi-annual exchange of lists of Prisoners between India and Pakistan, there are 52 civilian prisoners believed-to-be Indian in Pakistani jails. Details pertaining to the state, that they may be belonging to, have not been provided.

Government consistently takes up with the Pakistan authorities the matter of early release and repatriation of all the Indian prisoners as well as providing regular consular access to them. Due to Government’s persistent efforts five civilian prisoners have been released by Pakistan in 2017, so far. This includes Shri Surja Ram S/o Teko Ram from Rajasthan, who was released and repatriated on June 22, 2017.

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