Indian Sikh Woman Missing Pakistan: Why did the Indian Sikh woman who went to Pakistan suddenly go missing? Did a 9-year-old social media friendship lead her to cross-border marriage? Was it love or pressure? The agencies of both the countries are now looking for answers.
New Delhi. Sarabjit Kaur, a 48-year-old woman from Punjab, who was among about 2,000 Indian Sikh pilgrims who crossed to Pakistan via Wagah border, went missing suddenly. The news of his disappearance created a stir in both the countries. Sarabjit Kaur, a native of Amanipur village in Kapurthala district of India, had gone to Pakistan to participate in the celebrations of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
When did Sarabjit Kaur go missing?
Sarabjit Kaur was found missing on 13 November, while the pilgrims were returning home. After this the police started investigating his disappearance. According to intelligence sources, Kaur married Nasir Hussain, a resident of Sheikhupura district of Lahore, on 4 November, the day after her arrival in Pakistan, and announced that she had converted to Islam. Police is busy searching for both of them, but till now it has not been possible to catch them.
How did social media change fortunes?
Intelligence reports said that Kaur and Nasir Hussain met through social media nine years ago. Kaur herself said in a video that she loves Nasir and wants to marry him since he is a divorcee. She also clarified in the court that no one kidnapped her and she was completely independent in her decision.
What is ‘soft conversion’?
Kaur adopted the Muslim name Noor and married of her own free will. This matter is much discussed in the media and social platforms. According to intelligence and police officials, the incident points towards “soft conversion”, in which the emphasis is on identification and conversion of the individual.
Did the police get any success?
Kapurthala police said their search is on. Kaur was issued a passport in January 2024. However, three cases of fraud and forgery are already registered against him in India. Sarabjit Kaur claimed that she had known Nasir on social media for the last nine years, and the marriage was purely of her “own will”. In a statement given in a Pakistani court, she also said that she was not kidnapped, nor was any pressure put on her.
Why are India and Pakistan police investigating again?
India’s Punjab Police is investigating this claim, especially because Kaur also faces three prior cases of fraud and forgery. According to the police, it is also part of the investigation whether she really stayed in Pakistan willingly, or whether some kind of fear, deception or pressure led to this decision. Pakistan police say the couple has “gone into hiding” after the wedding and are being searched for – adding to the mystery of the case. At the same time, the question is being raised in India whether Sarabjit had already prepared for this marriage in Pakistan, or it was a sudden decision.