Islamabad, April 24: An Indian Sikh pilgrim, who was reported to have gone missing in Pakistan during Baisakhi festival celebrations, was found staying in his Facebook friend's house in Sheikhupura city, the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has said.
Amarjeet Singh, 23, from Amritsar, arrived in Pakistan on April 12 to attend the festival but failed to show up for his scheduled return along with other Sikh pilgrims on April 21.
Geo News cited sources as saying that from Nankana Sahib, Singh went to meet his Facebook friend Amir Razzak, a resident of Sheikhupura, and was staying with him for the past three days.
Singh told Razzak that he had a three-month Pakistani visa, Geo News cited the sources as saying.
Following media reports about Singh having gone missing, Razzak contacted the ETPB after which officials took the Indian man into protective custody.
Singh was expected to be handed over to the Indian authorities on Tuesday.
His disappearance came at the heels of another visiting Indian pilgrim Kiran Bala, who married Pakistani national Mohammad Azam and applied for Pakistani citizenship.
She went to Pakistan on a pilgrimage on April 12 and reportedly went missing on April 16. But later, she reportedly embraced Islam and married Azam.
Around 1,700 Indian pilgrims had gone to Pakistan to visit Sikh shrines, including Panja Sahib Gurdwara near Lahore and Nankana Sahib -- the birth place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, on the occasion of Baisakhi on April 13.
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VHP warns of statewide stir in Karnataka against move to ease cattle transport law
Udupi (Karnataka) (PTI): The VHP on Saturday demanded the immediate withdrawal of a proposed amendment to the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020, accusing the state government of weakening a law that has deterred illegal cattle transport.
The organisation's Go Raksha Wing, Karnataka South, has also announced district-level protests on December 8.
According to officials, the existing law mandates a bank guarantee for securing the release of vehicles seized for alleged illegal cattle transportation.
On December 4, the state Cabinet proposed an amendment enabling the release of such vehicles on an indemnity bond instead.
Addressing reporters in Udupi, VHP leader and Prantha Goraksha Pramukh Sunil K R, said the government's move amounted to "sympathy for cattle lifters" and claimed that it was part of broader actions "targeting Hindus".
He argued that the law in its current form is stringent and has played a crucial role in reducing incidents of illegal cattle transport and theft.
Under the Act, vehicles involved in offences can be surrendered and, upon conviction, permanently seized by authorities. "Diluting these provisions will embolden offenders," Sunil said.
The VHP leader warned that easing the process of vehicle release would not only encourage violators but also result in rising cruelty against cattle.
Sunil further claimed that the strict enforcement of the 2020 law had brought down cases of cattle-related offences significantly. Rolling back these provisions, he said, could reverse those gains and would lead to an increase in illegal transport.
He reiterated that the government must reconsider its decision and preserve the integrity of the existing law.
