Indian government hears 52 NRIs killed abroad in 2012

Minister of Overaseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi. Raveendran/AFP/Getty Images

New Delhi, Feb 27 (IANS) A total of 52 Indians living outside the country were killed in 2012, while another 50 committed suicide in the same time span, India’s government was informed Wednesday.

The year before, 38 Indians were killed abroad while 56 committed suicide, while two years ago, in 2010, 58 NRIs, or Non-Resident Indians, were killed and 55 committed suicide.

The figures led Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi to determine the situation was stable.

“There does not seem to be an increasing trend in the number of such deaths,” Ravi said, replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, or lower house of India’s parliament.

Sometimes delays occur in bringing the bodies back to India due to local laws and procedures or non-cooperation of sponsors, he added.

The discussion in the house centred on citizens of the country who were murdered or killed in accidents in foreign countries.

“The entire process is subject to norms laid down by the host governments. The government of India, through the concerned embassy, intervenes in cases where the delay seems to be unjustified,” Ravi said.

Replying to another question, Ravi said: “The government provides legal and financial assistance to the Indian women who are deserted or divorced by their overseas spouses.”

“Twenty-seven non-government organizations are set up in seven countries — the U.S., Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Bahrain and Qatar — to provide such assistance,” Ravi concluded.

More on abandoned brides can be found here.

IANS 2013-02-27 16:34:03

Tags: abandoned brides, NRI