Kin seek govt help as another pilgrim fails to return from Pak

Amritsar, April 22

After another pilgrim, who was part of the Sikh jatha to Pakistan failed to return, his family on Sunday urged the government to do something to get him back.

"We are worried about him, the government should do something to get him back," family members of 24-year-old Amarjit Singh, a resident of Niranjanpura village in Amritsar district, said.

Earlier, a woman member of the Jatha, Kiran Bala too failed to come back after she reportedly solemnised marriage in Pakistan with a Muslim after embracing Islam.

Amarjit, who had gone to Pakistan on a 10-day pilgrimage as part of the Sikh Jatha on April 12, did not return home even as other pilgrims came back yesterday.

"The group of Sikh pilgrims after observing Baisakhi festival and paying obeisance at various Sikh shrines in Pakistan returned yesterday but Amarjit Singh was found missing," Amritsar (Rural) SSP Parampal Singh said.

Singh had arrived in Pakistan along with other pilgrims to celebrate Baisakhi on April 12.

His disappearance was only noticed when the Jatha started its return journey to India, according to a Pakistani media report.

Singh's passport, like that of other pilgrims, was with the officials of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), who immediately informed top officials when Singh failed to collect it within the stipulated time.

"Initial investigation shows that Amarjit Singh separated himself from the group members on a visit to Gurdwara Janamestan in Nankana Sahib (80 km from Lahore) on April 16 and disappeared," an official of ETPB told PTI.

The ETPB came to know about his disappearance when Singh did not turn up yesterday along with other visiting Indian Sikhs at the Wagah railway station to leave for their homeland. 

Singh and others have a valid Pakistani visa for April 21. 

The official further said the police have launched a search in Nankana Sahib where a good number of Sikh families are residing.  

"No FIR has been registered as yet in this regard," he said.

According to an initial probe, Singh disappeared on reaching Lahore from Nankana Sahib. A search to locate him is underway, the report said.

Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court has directed the interior ministry to decide by Monday the application of Kiran Bala, seeking Pakistani citizenship and extension to her visa.

Both Amarjit and Bala had gone to Pakistan for a 10-day pilgrimage as part of the Jatha on April 12. - Agencies