Sarabjit Kaur, a 52-year-old woman from Amanipur village in Kapurthala, Punjab, who sparked a cross-border controversy by marrying a Pakistani man during a Sikh pilgrimage is expected to be deported to India via the Attari-Wagah border on Monday.
On January 4, Pakistan’s Intelligence Bureau and local police arrested Kaur and Nasir in Pehre Wali village near Nankana Sahib. PSGPC president and Punjab minister Ramesh Singh Arora confirmed the arrests and said Pakistan is preparing to deport her due to her expired single-entry visa.
Kaur had travelled to Pakistan on November 4, 2025, as part of a 1,932-member Sikh jatha to mark the 555th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. While the group returned on November 13, she stayed behind, converted to Islam, adopted the name Noor Hussain, and married Nasir Hussain from Sheikhupura on November 5.
A viral nikahnama, the Islamic marriage contract, and a video surfaced showing Kaur claiming a nine-year acquaintance with Nasir, whom she allegedly met while working in Dubai. She stated she was divorced and has two sons from a previous marriage.
Residents of Kaur’s village described her as reclusive, noting her lavish lifestyle and limited social ties. Investigations revealed multiple cases against her family in Sultanpur Lodhi, including prostitution charges.
Despite this, she obtained a visa after police verification, raising questions about how the approval was granted, as individuals with criminal records are typically ineligible for such pilgrimages.
Authorities allege Kaur omitted key details on her Pakistan immigration form, including her nationality and passport number, making it difficult to track her movements. She was absent from both Pakistan exit and India entry records and was initially presumed missing until news of her marriage emerged.
Kaur’s ex-husband, Karnail Singh, lives in England, and her passport was issued in Punjab’s Muktsar district. Following her failure to return, the Indian Immigration Department alerted the Punjab Police, which has shared preliminary reports with other agencies.
The Indian mission remains in contact with Pakistani authorities regarding her return.
