In 2021, over 30% of all detenues in Indian prisons were Muslims, according to Prison Statistics of India. The Muslim community’s share in the population is only 14.2% as of 2011.
In Assam, 61% of the convicts and 49% of the undertrials were Muslims, while the population share of Muslims in the the northeastern was 34%, The Hindu reported.
The share of Muslim detainees was disproportationate to the population share in states like Gujarat, U.P., Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory.
Many prison statistics reports have been showing a disproportionate representation of Muslims, Sikhs, as well as Dalits (Scheduled Castes) and Adivasis (Scheduled Tribes), relative to their share in the population according to the 2011 census.
There are four types of prisoners in India, 1)convicts (persons found guilty of a crime and sentenced by a court), 2)undertrials (currently on trial in a court of law), 3) detenues (persons held lawfully in custody), and those who do not belong to any of these three categories.
Some states did not give religion-wise breakup for prisoners.
Here is the data:
Source: Prison Statistics of India
Religion of detenues as on 31st December, 2021.
Religion of convicts as on 31st December, 2021.
Religion of undertrial prisoners as on 31st December, 2021.
According to an analysis of prison statistics by the India Justice Report (IJR), out of the 51.7 per cent overall convicts, 15.9 per cent were Muslims.
Of the 49 per cent undertrials, 18 per cent Muslims.
Out of the 56.4 per cent detenues, Muslims were 27.7 per cent.
