(a) whether 17 Indians have been sentenced to death allegedly for killing a Pakistani national by the United Arab Emirates;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to provide financial and legal help to those convicts in order to save their lives?
MINISTER OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS (SHRI VAYALAR RAVI)
(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. The Indian mission in Dubai had reported the verdict pronounced by
the Court of First Instance Sharjah, UAE awarding death sentence to 17 Indians for bootlegging
and murder of a Pakistani national. The incident had happened during a clash in January, 2009
in Sharjah Industrial Area, due to a dispute between two groups of persons. The Court found
17 Indians guilty of murder of a Pakistani national besides injuring three other Pakistanis.
The verdict was pronounced on 28-03-2010.
(c): Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has instructed the Indian Mission at Dubai to
engage the services of a leading legal firm to defend the accused. The cost for engaging
the legal firm would be borne by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.