Indian Sikh Woman Disappears in Pakistan, Converts and Marries

Chandigarh: Sarabjit Kaur, a 52-year-old Indian Sikh woman from Kapurthala, Punjab, has seemingly converted to Islam and married a Pakistani national after her disappearance during a religious pilgrimage, according to recently uncovered documents.

She traveled to Pakistan on November 4 with a group of 1,992 pilgrims to mark the 555th anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. While the group returned to India on November 13, Kaur did not return with them.

A 'nikahnama' (Islamic marriage contract) in Urdu reveals her marriage to Nasir Hussain, a resident of Sheikhupura, around 56 km from Lahore. The documents further indicate that Kaur adopted the name “Noor” upon her conversion to Islam prior to her marriage. Verification of these documents remains pending.

Kaur was previously divorced and has two sons with her ex-husband, Karnail Singh, who has been living in England for nearly three decades. Her passport was issued in Punjab’s Muktsar district, and there are no immigration records to indicate her return to India.

After her failure to return, the Indian Immigration Department alerted Punjab Police, who have submitted a preliminary report to authorities. Indian and Pakistani officials are now collaborating to investigate her case.

Each year, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) organizes pilgrimages to historic gurudwaras in Pakistan, especially during Guru Nanak’s Prakash Parv. This year's 10-day trip to Nankana Sahib was ultimately allowed after initial security concerns postponed it.

The mysterious circumstances of Kaur's disappearance and subsequent conversion have generated significant attention and raised alarms regarding the safety of Indian pilgrims visiting Pakistan for religious observances.

While authorities investigate, they remain focused on confirming the legitimacy of the marriage documents and understanding Kaur's decision to remain in Pakistan.