Kuwait releases 22 Indian prisoners, commutes sentences of 97 convicted for drugs smuggling

Kuwait City, October 2: The diplomatic relations of India with other countries has been strengthened more and more since the PM Modi led government came into power. This strong diplomacy from Indian side led Kuwait to release 22 Indian prisoners and commuted the sentences of 97 others lodged in the Arab country's prison.

 

Notably, the Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has freed 22 Indian prisoners and commuted the sentences of 97 others lodged in the Arab country's prison. The reduction of sentence, a release is part of Amiri pardon. The list containing the names of 119 Indians is the addition to the 15 Indian prisoners whose death sentences were recently commuted to life imprisonment.

However, sentences of 53 Indians have been reduced from life imprisonment to 20 years. The Emir of Kuwait has ordered a reduction of three-quarters of the sentence of 18 Indians, a reduction of half period of the sentences of 25 and one-quarter of the sentence of one.

The Indian mission in Kuwait said in a twitter that it would provide all possible assistance for their travel to India after their release or completion of sentences. “Efforts were also being made to help those Indian prisoners who have given their consent to spend rest of their sentence period in India,” the Indian mission added.

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj thanked Emir of Kuwait for this kind gesture. She posted a series of tweets after the announcement was done. She said, “HH the Emir of Kuwait has been pleased to commute the sentence of 15 Indian nationals from death to life imprisonment.” Minister Sushma further tweeted, “HH the Emir has further directed the reduction in sentence of 119 Indian nationals.”

Minister Sushma also said, "We are grateful to the Emir of Kuwait for this kind gesture." “Indian mission in Kuwait will provide all possible assistance to the Indian nationals being released from the prison,” she added.

Interestingly, Majority of Indians who are facing sentences in Kuwait on drug smuggling were hailing from Andhra Pradesh and some of them are innocent and trapped in the web of gangs that operate from Kadapa, Chennai and Kuwait. Earlier also Kuwait Amir has pardoned 15 Indian prisoners by converting their death sentences into life imprisonment.