32K Women Abandoned by NRI Husbands; Sikh Caretaker Couple Shot in Pakistan

June

2026

National Commission for Women Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar flagged on 16 Jun the growing challenge of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) marriage fraud in Panjab. She said that data indicates that nearly 32K women have reportedly been abandoned by NRI husbands in Panjab (without specifying the period). Chairing a Mahila Jan Sunwai (Women’s Open Hearing) at Rupnagar, Rahatkar expressed concern over instances where First Information Reports had not been registered and directed the Panjab police officials to ensure timely redressal of women’s complaints, and submit action-taken reports within stipulated deadlines. Nearly 40 cases from Rupnagar and Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar districts, along with several walk-in complaints, were heard during the Jan Sunwais in the presence of Deputy Commissioners, Senior Superintendents of Police, investigating officers, and other officials from the two districts. Rahatkar added that the police could strengthen its handling of women complainants. Meanwhile, the Panjab police has secured the deportation from Malaysia of two wanted operatives linked to the banned Khalistan Zindabad Force terror module, accused of targeting critical railway infrastructure, including the Dedicated Freight Corridor lines in the state. The two accused—Gurwinder Singh of Ambala, Haryana and Manjeet Singh of Patiala—were allegedly behind the IED blast on the Sirhind railway track on 23 Jan and an attempted explosion on the same track near Shambhu on 27 Apr. Concurrently, a Sikh caretaker couple was shot dead in a Gurdwara in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province on 17 Jun. The incident occurred in Babu Mohallah locality of Mardan, about 60 km northwest of Peshawar. Police have arrested Sher Shah, a resident of Amazugari area in Mardan. The motive of killing, however, remains unclear. The murders have once again drawn attention to the security of Pakistan's small Sikh community—estimated at 8K—particularly in KP, where Sikhs have historically faced threats from militants. Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne) Jathedar (leader) Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, condemned the murders and called on Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and KP Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi to ensure the killer faces the strictest punishment. Additionally, a 19-year-old student from Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar has been charged with murdering his parents and grandmother in a shocking triple homicide in the US state of Texas. The accused, identified as Gaurav Chopra, allegedly opened fire on his family members at their home in the Tuscany Village (earlier coverage).