'Shocking And Deplorable Incident': Jaishankar On Forcible Conversion of Sikh Teacher In Pakistan

The Sikh teacher was reportedly was abducted at gunpoint and forcibly married to her abductor in Buner district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said the government had raised with Pakistan the incident of the alleged kidnapping and forceful conversion of a female Sikh teacher in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. In a reply to the National Minorities Commission (NCM) on the incident, which took place on August 20, Jaishankar said the government had conveyed its "grave concerns" at such a "shocking and deplorable incident".

"The government of India raised the matter with the Govt of Pakistan conveying grave concerns at such a shocking and deplorable incident," Jaishankar said.

"The government of India has also shared its expectations that the Pakistan government will sincerely probe it and take strict action against those responsible for this incident. Pakistan has also been called upon to ensure the safety and welfare of the members of the minority communities in the country, including their places of worship," the Foreign Minister further said.

Last month, NCM chief Iqbal Singh Lalpura had written to Jaishankar and requested him to take up the matter with his counterpart in Pakistan so that this type of incident is not repeated and appropriate steps are taken for the safety of Sikhs in Pakistan.

The Sikh teacher, Dina Kumari (25), was reportedly abducted at gunpoint and forcibly married to her abductor in Buner district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Members of the Sikh community held protests for two days in August after police showed reluctance to register an FIR.

A Sikh community leader claimed that the police were playing the role of a "silent spectator", IANS reported. He said that when the community members met the district police officer, he had assured them that Kumari would be handed over to the family.

But the next day, the police misbehaved with the family members and did not hand her over or register their report.

Spaking to Dawn, Buner DPO Abdur Rasheed rejected the family's allegation, saying that the police recovered the woman and produced her before a magistrate where she recorded her statement. Police said the woman confirmed in the court that she converted to Islam and contracted marriage of her own free will and submitted the relevant documents.

(With inputs from agencies)