An Indian Sikh woman who vanished during a recent pilgrimage to Pakistan has reportedly converted to Islam and married a local man. Sarabjit Kaur, 52, from Kapurthala in Punjab, travelled with a group of 1,992 Sikh pilgrims on November 4 for Guru Nanak Dev’s 555th Prakash Parv celebrations. The group returned to India on November 13, but Kaur did not come back.
A nikahnama has surfaced in Urdu, claiming Kaur adopted the name Noor and married Nasir Hussain of Sheikhupura, located about 56 kilometres from Lahore. The document remains unverified. Kaur was earlier divorced and has two sons. Her ex-husband has lived in England for nearly three decades.
Officials noticed that immigration records did not show her exit from Pakistan or re-entry into India. The Immigration Department alerted Punjab Police when she failed to return. The police then sent a preliminary report to central agencies. Indian diplomats are now coordinating with Pakistani authorities to trace her.
Kaur’s passport was issued in Muktsar district. She had travelled under a bilateral agreement that allows Sikh pilgrims to visit historic gurudwaras in Pakistan. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee sends such delegations every year for the religious event.
