Abdul Rahim arrives home in Kerala after serving 20-year jail term in Saudi Arabia

New Delhi ( Vivek Ojha) : Protection of Indian diaspora living abroad or facing challenges outside india is managed by External Affairs ministry sensitively. Recently, A native of Kodampuzha in Kozhikode district of Kerala, Abdul Rahim who was imprisoned and sentenced to death in 2006 for the murder of 14-year-old differently abled son of his employer, has finally arrived home after serving a 20-year jail term in Saudi Arabia. His jail term ended on May 19.

A large number of people, including local residents, his family members and neighbours, had gathered to greet him. The occasion also marked the observance of Id-ul-Adha.

News channel cameramen jostled for space at the frontyard of the house when his mother, Fathima, came out and hugged him. Overcome with emotions, a sobbing Mr. Rahim was at a loss for words for a while. He was later seen waving to the crowd outside who were not deterred by the light drizzle.

As per the information available with the India's External Affairs Ministry, the number of Indian prisoners, including undertrials, in foreign prisons at present is 10574.

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, had noted last year that the largest number of Indian prisoners has been recorded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where 2,773 Indian nationals are currently behind bars.

This is followed by Saudi Arabia with 2,379 inmates and Nepal with 1,357. Other countries with a significant number of Indian prisoners include Qatar with 795, Malaysia with 380, Kuwait with 342, the United Kingdom with 323, Bahrain with 261, Pakistan with 246, China with 183 and others.