Chandigarh: A 52-year-old Indian Sikh woman, Sarabjit Kaur from Kapurthala, Punjab, has reportedly converted to Islam and married a Pakistani man after going missing during a religious pilgrimage, according to documents that have surfaced in recent days.

Kaur had traveled to Pakistan on November 4 as part of a Sikh “jatha” comprising 1,992 pilgrims who crossed the Wagah-Attari border to participate in celebrations marking the 555th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. While the group returned to India on November 13 after a 10-day pilgrimage, Kaur did not accompany them.

A ‘nikahnama’ (Islamic marriage contract) written in Urdu indicates that Kaur married Nasir Hussain, a resident of Sheikhupura, located roughly 56 km from Lahore. The documents also suggest that she converted to Islam and adopted the name “Noor” prior to her marriage. Independent verification of these documents has not yet been confirmed.

Sarabjit Kaur was divorced and has two sons with her ex-husband, Karnail Singh, who has been residing in England for nearly 30 years. Her passport had been issued in Punjab’s Muktsar district. Records indicate that she disappeared in Pakistan, with no immigration entry or exit records showing her return to India.

Upon realizing Kaur had not returned, the Indian Immigration Department immediately informed the Punjab Police, who have sent a preliminary report to relevant agencies. Indian authorities are also coordinating with Pakistani officials to investigate her disappearance.

Every year, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex Sikh body, organizes delegations of pilgrims to visit historic gurudwaras in Pakistan, especially during Guru Nanak’s Prakash Parv. This year, the 10-day pilgrimage to Nankana Sahib was permitted after initial security concerns had led to its postponement.

The unusual circumstances surrounding Kaur’s disappearance and conversion have sparked widespread attention, highlighting concerns over the safety and well-being of Indian pilgrims visiting Pakistan for religious purposes.

As authorities continue their investigations, the focus remains on verifying the authenticity of the marriage documents and determining the circumstances under which Kaur decided to stay in Pakistan.