The disappearance of a 48-year-old Sikh woman, Sarabjit Kaur, who traveled to Pakistan as part of a pilgrimage group for Guru Nanak Dev’s 556th birth anniversary, has escalated into a complex, cross-border incident involving a reported religious conversion, marriage, and an investigation into her past criminal record.

Sarabjit Kaur, a resident of Amanipur in India’s Kapurthala district, failed to return with the 1,931-member jatha (pilgrim group) on November 13, immediately alerting Indian authorities, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and central intelligence agencies.

Conversion, Marriage, and a Circulated Video

According to police in Lahore, Pakistan, Sarabjit Kaur, who has reportedly adopted the name Noor Hussain, “solemnised nikah” with 43-year-old Nasir Hussain on November 5—just one day after entering Pakistan via the Attari border.

A senior Lahore police officer stated that she “declared that she converted to Islam and married out of free will.” A purported Urdu nikahnama (Islamic marriage contract) widely circulated on social media lists her new identity and her address as Haal Maukeen village in Sheikhupura, near Lahore.

Further complicating the narrative, an 18-second video of the Nikah ceremony has circulated, mainly in the Pakistani media. In the clip, Sarabjit Kaur can be seen affirming that she is willingly converting to Islam and states: “I love Nasir and have known him for the past nine years. I am currently divorced and willingly marrying him.” While the veracity of the video is yet to be independently verified, Pakistani police confirmed that the couple has since “gone into hiding” and are being searched for.

Scrutiny by Indian Authorities

The sudden turn of events has put both the Punjab Police and central intelligence agencies on high alert, with officials attempting to establish direct contact with Sarabjit to determine the exact circumstances surrounding her decision.

• Family Background: Investigators noted that Sarabjit was divorced from her husband, Karnail Singh, who has lived in England for nearly 15 years. She had been residing in Amanipur with her two sons prior to her trip.
• Police Probe: Kapurthala Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Toora confirmed that the force is coordinating with central agencies on this “serious issue.” Officers have visited her village to meet her sons and gather information about her intentions before her departure. The police are also examining whether she had previously traveled to Pakistan via routes like the Kartarpur Corridor.
• Travel Documents: Officials found discrepancies in her travel documents. Her passport lists a permanent address in Malout, Muktsar district, and mentions her father’s name. Crucially, she allegedly did not provide her citizenship and passport number in the immigration form submitted when applying for a Pakistan visa.

Criminal History of Sarabjit and Sons

The investigation has revealed that Sarabjit Kaur has a criminal record in India, with police confirming three cases of cheating and fraud registered against her in Bathinda and Kapurthala.

Furthermore, her two sons also face a total of 10 FIRs between them across various police stations for charges including fraud, assault, and cheating. Despite the severe allegations against the family, villagers and family members have reportedly refused to speak on the matter to investigators.

SGPC Condemnation and Failure of Agencies

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) condemned Sarabjit Kaur’s actions, stating that they only recommended the names of pilgrims and that police verification was the sole responsibility of the Government of India and its agencies.

SGPC secretary Partap Singh strongly criticized the handling of the case, calling it a “failure of the agencies” for not sensing that Sarabjit was already in contact with a Pakistani national and that her visit was potentially pre-planned. He added that her actions have “hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community and brought bad name to the whole process of pilgrimage.”

The focus of Indian agencies now remains on verifying the authenticity of the documents and the video, ensuring Sarabjit’s safety, and clarifying whether her decision was entirely voluntary or influenced by coercion.