Two Minor Hindu Girls Kidnapped, Forcefully Converted to Islam And Married in Pakistan; Sushma Swaraj Intervenes to Help

Following the incident, the Hindu community in Pakistan has carried out massive protest demanding strict action against those involved.

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has asked Indian Commission in Pakistan to send a report on two Hindu girls who were abducted and converted to Islam in Pakistan’s Sindh province on Holi eve. “I have asked Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan to send a report on this,” tweeted the Union Minister, quoting a news report.

Notably, two minor Hindu sisters Raveena (13) and Reena (15) were allegedly kidnapped by a group of “influential” men from their home in Ghotki district and forcibly married after being converted to Islam in the neighbouring country, triggering protests by the minority community. An FIR was filed by the victims’ brother, alleging that their father had an altercation with the accused sometime ago and on the eve of Holi they armed with pistols forcibly entered their home and took the sisters away.

Soon after the kidnapping, a video went viral in which a cleric was purportedly shown solemnising the Nikah (marriage) of the two girls. Later another video surfaced in which the two sisters claimed they embraced Islam themselves and no one forced them to covert or get married.

Following the incident, the Hindu community in Pakistan has carried out massive demonstrations calling for strict action to be taken against those responsible, while reminding Prime Minister Imran Khan of his promises to the minorities of the country.

Sanjesh Dhanja, President of Pakistan Hindu Sewa Welfare Trust, an NGO, called on Prime Minister Khan to take note of the incident and prove to everyone that minorities were indeed safe and secure in Pakistan. “The truth is minorities suffer from different sorts of persecution and the problem of young Hindu girls being kidnapped at gunpoint and forced to convert to Islam or get married to much older men is widespread in Sindh”, he said.

A Pakistan Muslim League-Functional MPA Nand Kumar Goklani, who had initially moved a bill against forced conversions, urged the government to get the law passed immediately. “We demand the government to take up my bill and get it passed without any delay,” he said, adding,”The fact that the two girls were underage confirmed it was a crime and they couldn’t show free will on getting married or conversion to Islam.”

Meanwhile, police has arrested one of the accused and conducting raids to arrest others involved in the incident.