Thursday, December 22 2005 17:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: As many as 2,548 Indians were imprisoned in Saudi Arabia during the last two years, Government told the Rajya Sabha today (Dec 22, 2005).

While 1,444 Indian nationals were imprisoned last year, 1,104 were jailed this year till December 9 as per the intimation received from the Government of Saudi Arabia, Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed said in a written reply.

With regard to Abdul Lateef Naushad, who has been sentenced by a Saudi court that his one eye be gouged for partially blinding a local, the Minister said India has sent a mercy petition to Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Governor of Dammam, where Lateef is imprisoned.