India ascertaining facts of 17 Indians on death row in UAE: MEA

New Delhi, March 29 (ANI): India has sought consular access to the 17 Indians, who have been awarded death sentence by a court for killing a Pakistani, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"India is ascertaining the facts and our consulate will provide all the assistance to theentenced Indians," said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vishnu Prakash here on Monday.

Seventeen Indian nationals have been sentenced to death by a United Arab Emirates (UAE) court for killing a Pakistani man over an illegal alcohol business dispute in Sharjah in January 2009.

The Sharia court in Sharjah, sentenced the men to death following DNA tests indicating involvement in the fatal stabbing, Khaleej Times reported.

According to reports, about 50 people were involved in the fatal attack in which the Pakistani man was beaten to death with metal bars, but those sentenced to death were found to have been the leaders.

Three other Pakistani nationals were injured in the attack, but they survived. his is the highest number of death sentences handed down at one time in the UAE, according to the BBC.

Death sentences are usually commuted to life in prison in Sharjah. (ANI)