Indian Sikh Woman Goes Missing During Religious Trip to Pakistan

In a troubling development, an Indian Sikh woman went missing during a religious pilgrimage to Pakistan, raising concerns about the safety of devotees travelling abroad. The woman, identified as Sarabjit Kaur, hails from Kapurthala district in Punjab and was part of a large group of 1,923 Sikh pilgrims who travelled under a bilateral agreement facilitating visits to historic religious shrines.

The pilgrimage began on November 4 via the Attari border in Amritsar, with the group heading to Nankana Sahib in Pakistan to celebrate Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Parkash Parv. The journey, led by Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj of Akal Takht Sahib, included visits to several key gurudwaras over a 10-day period.

While the rest of the delegation returned to India on Thursday evening, Sarabjit Kaur’s absence was noted in both Pakistan and India’s immigration records. Her name was missing from the exit records in Pakistan as well as the re-entry records in India.

Authorities in both countries have initiated efforts to trace her whereabouts. The Indian mission in Pakistan has reportedly been in direct contact with Pakistani authorities to expedite the search and ensure the pilgrim’s safety.

This incident comes shortly after the Union government granted permission for Sikh pilgrims to undertake the 10-day religious trip to Nankana Sahib, nearly two weeks after initially denying the request due to security concerns. Each year, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) organizes pilgrimages to historic Sikh sites in Pakistan, especially during significant religious occasions such as Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth anniversary.

Intelligence agencies are closely monitoring the situation as the search for Sarabjit Kaur continues, highlighting the challenges of ensuring safety during cross-border religious visits. Authorities urge families and pilgrims to remain vigilant and report any unusual activity during such trips.