Three Uzbek women remain in prison in India since Oct 2021; Embassy comments

Some Indian local media reported that three women from Uzbekistan are being held in a prison in Bihar. They were caught in October 2021 while illegally crossing the India-Nepal border. Despite the decision of the court of first instance in the city of Araria in August 2022 to expel (deport) citizens of Uzbekistan from the territory of the country, they are still detained due to various bureaucratic obstacles and the complexity of jurisdiction.

According to the Embassy of Uzbekistan in India, neither they nor their relatives applied for prompt consular-legal assistance on this issue in a timely manner.

"The embassy is holding official dialogues with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India and relevant agencies of the state of Bihar regarding this situation. Currently, appropriate measures are being taken to return them to their homeland," the report said.

The diplomatic mission urges Uzbeks not to be deceived by the false promises of various dubious groups or individuals, and to strictly comply with the requirements of local legislation when entering and staying in India.