Indian Sikh pilgrim, who went missing during pilgrimage, marries Pakistani man
Chandigarh, Nov 15
A middle-aged Sikh woman pilgrim, who went missing from the group of 1,923 devotees that had travelled to Pakistan this month to celebrate the 'Parkash Purab' (birth anniversary) of Guru Nanak Dev, has reportedly changed religion and married a Pakistani man in Lahore.
A nikahnama and passport copy have surfaced, claiming she is married and has changed her faith.
The pilgrim has been identified as Sarabjeet Kaur, a resident of Kapurthala district in Punjab.
Sikh groups are demanding a probe into her mysterious disappearance.
As per information, she has taken the name Noor Hussain and married Nasir Hussain of Nayi Abadi Sheikupura in Pakistan.
As per Indian records, the woman travelled to Pakistan on November 4 with a group of 1,923 pilgrims via the Attari border in Amritsar under a bilateral agreement facilitating visits to religious shrines.
The 'jatha' was led by Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj of Akal Takht Sahib. After spending 10 days visiting various gurdwaras in Pakistan, the group of 1,922 returned to India on Thursday evening.
According to immigration records, Sarabjeet Kaur had gone missing from the group. Her name was not found in the records of Pakistan's immigration while exiting, nor in India's immigration records for re-entry.
After her disappearance, intelligence agencies in India are trying to trace her whereabouts.
Sources in the Indian government told IANS that the Indian mission in Pakistan is in touch with the Pakistani authorities.
On November 4, the Sikh pilgrims went to Nankana Sahib in Pakistan to celebrate Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 'Parkash Purab'.
However, Pakistani officials reportedly denied 14 Hindus from Delhi and Lucknow from travelling with the Sikh group.
Last month, the Union government granted permission to Sikh pilgrims to undertake a 10-day journey to the Nankana Sahib shrine in Pakistan and mark the birth anniversary, almost two weeks after it refused permission for the holy trip, citing security concerns.
Every year, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) sends a delegation of Sikh devotees to Pakistan to pay obeisance at various historic gurdwaras associated with the Sikh faith, especially on the occasion of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 'Parkash Purab'.
— IANS
Reader Comments
If this was her own choice and she's happy, then we should respect her decision. Love knows no borders. But the circumstances do seem suspicious - disappearing during a pilgrimage? 🤔 Hope she's safe and not being coerced.
This raises serious questions about the security arrangements for Indian pilgrims. How can someone just vanish from a group of 1923 people? The organizers need to be more responsible. Our people's safety should be the top priority.
As someone who has visited Pakistan for work, I can say that cross-border relationships do happen. But the timing and circumstances here are unusual. The authorities should verify if this was voluntary and ensure her family gets proper updates.
The fact that 14 Hindus were denied entry to Pakistan just before this incident makes me wonder about the overall environment. We need better protocols for these religious exchanges. Safety first, diplomacy second.
My heart goes out to her family in Kapurthala. They must be going through so much stress. Whether this was her choice or not, the lack of communication is troubling. Hope the Indian mission can provide clarity soon. ðŸ™
While I respect individual choices, the pattern here is concerning. This isn't the first such
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.