More than 1,600 Bangladeshis languishing Indian jails awaiting trial: Minister at Rajya Sabha

As many as 1,630 Bangladeshi nationals are among the 3,467 foreign undertrial prisoners lodged in different Indian jails, the Rajya Sabha was told today.

The highest number of the foreign prisoners are from Bangladesh, reports our New Delhi correspondent quoting India's Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra.

Of the other foreign prisoners, 615 are from Nigeria, 463 from Nepal, 152 from Myanmar 114 from Africa (other than Nigeria) and 107 from Pakistan, he said.

The minister said the highest number of foreign prisoners are lodged in West Bengal (1,295), followed by Delhi (400), Maharashtra (380), Uttar Pradesh (290), Karnataka (155) and Himachal Pradesh (119), among others.

Of the total foreign prisoners lodged in Indian prisons, 1,140 have been convicted and 3,467 prisoners are facing trial in different stages, Mishra said.

Replying to supplementary questions during the Question Hour, the minister said a majority of the prisoners face cases concerning narcotics and passport and visa violations.