India urges Bahrain to set Indian prisoners free

India has approached Bahraini authorities to facilitate the release of its nationals.

India has approached Bahraini authorities to facilitate the release of its nationals who are languishing in jails there despite having completed their jail terms.

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India's ambassador to Bahrain, Balkrishna Shetty, said he had taken up the issue with the Public Prosecution chief Ali Al Buainain and Nationality, Passports and Residence Under- Secretary Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.

"We have come to realise that many Indians, who are detained in jails for various offences, are unable to leave the country even after their sentences are over," Shetty told Gulf Daily News.

"Some of them are held for weeks or even months because of the delay in getting clearance from various departments," he said adding authorities had agreed to look into the issue.

They "promised to take measures to speed up the release of prisoners as soon as they complete their jail terms," the daily quoted the Indian envoy as saying.

Shetty said 74 Indian prisoners are currently lodged in Jaw prison while three detainees were released from the detention centre at Hidd where 38 Indians are lodged.

"All three were held for visa violations and they have since been repatriated," he said. "Four others are expected to be released shortly."

Another 12 Indian women are kept in detention at the women's prison in Isa Town.

Some prisoners are unable to leave after completing their jail sentences because of the delay in getting clearances from local police stations, the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) and the Public Prosecution, the report said.