Did an Indian Sikh Pilgrim Who Went Missing During Pilgrimage Marry a Pakistani Man?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Sarabjeet Kaur went missing during a pilgrimage to Pakistan.
- She reportedly converted to Islam and married a Pakistani man.
- Sikh groups are demanding an investigation into her disappearance.
- The incident raises questions about cultural and religious implications.
- Intelligence agencies are looking into her case.
Chandigarh, Nov 15 (NationPress) A middle-aged Sikh woman pilgrim, who was reported missing from a group of 1,923 devotees that traveled to Pakistan this month to commemorate the 'Parkash Purab' (birth anniversary) of Guru Nanak Dev, has allegedly converted her religion and tied the knot with a Pakistani man in Lahore.
A nikahnama and a copy of her passport have emerged, indicating that she has embraced a new faith and entered matrimony.
The woman has been identified as Sarabjeet Kaur, hailing from the Kapurthala district in Punjab.
Sikh organizations are calling for an investigation into her enigmatic disappearance.
Reportedly, she has adopted the name Noor Hussain and married Nasir Hussain from Nayi Abadi Sheikupura in Pakistan.
According to Indian records, the pilgrim journeyed to Pakistan on November 4 along with a group of 1,923 pilgrims via the Attari border in Amritsar, under a bilateral agreement that allows visits to sacred sites.
The 'jatha' was led by Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj of Akal Takht Sahib. After spending ten days visiting various gurdwaras in Pakistan, the group of 1,922 returned to India on Thursday evening.
As per immigration records, Sarabjeet Kaur was reported missing from her group. Her name was absent from both Pakistani immigration records upon exit and Indian immigration records for re-entry.
In the wake of her disappearance, intelligence agencies in India are actively searching for her.
Sources from the Indian government informed IANS that the Indian mission in Pakistan is coordinating with Pakistani authorities regarding this matter.
On November 4, the Sikh pilgrims visited Nankana Sahib in Pakistan to observe Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 'Parkash Purab'.
However, it was reported that Pakistani officials barred 14 Hindus from Delhi and Lucknow from traveling with the Sikh group.
Recently, the Union government granted permission for Sikh pilgrims to undertake a ten-day pilgrimage to the Nankana Sahib shrine in Pakistan to celebrate the birth anniversary, just two weeks after initially denying permission due to security concerns.
Every year, the Sriomani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) organizes a delegation of Sikh devotees to visit Pakistan to pay homage at various historic gurdwaras linked to the Sikh faith, particularly during Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 'Parkash Purab'.