Monday, July 14, 2025
ADVT 
International

Afghan Sikh Widows Afraid To Return For Last Rites

IANS, 04 Jul, 2018 11:48 AM
    Manmeet Kaur, 41, was having tea with her two young daughters at their rented house in old Mahavir Nagar in New Delhi when a phone call from her brother-in-law shattered her world. 
     
     
    She was told her husband Anup Singh Wadhwa (42) had died in the Jalalabad suicide  attack. The body was identified by her 16-year-old son Dilpreet Singh from the gold ring and kara (bracelet) that he wore.
     
     
    Terrified, Manmeet Kaur refuses to return to Afghanistan for her husband’s last rites. “Going back to Kabul would be putting ourselves in the jaws of death,” she says. Her daughter Jasmeet Kaur,15, wants the Indian Government to grant visa to her brother left alone in Afghanistan.
     
     
    Another Sikh woman, who had arrived in Delhi barely a month ago with her children aged six and two, has also decided not to return for her husband’s cremation.
     
     
     “ I can’t endanger my children’s life,” she says.
     
     
    The grieving families held  13 akhand path at a Delhi gurdwara on Tuesday.
     
     
    Taramjit Singh, head of the Afghan Sikh community in India, lost his paternal uncle in the attack.  He says the Indian Government must take a compassionate view and grant permanent asylum to the families. 
     
     
    There are more than 5,000 Afghan Sikhs residing in West Delhi areas, including Old Mahavir Nagar.
     
     
    This locality houses 1984 Sikh massacre victims who have given shelter to the Afghan Sikhs. 
     
     
    Paramjit Kaur, whose family was wiped out in 1984,  says having undergone similar agony, they have decided to support the Afghan Sikhs. 
     
     
    Seventeen Sikhs were killed in the Jalalabad blast on July 1. Among them was poll candidate Avtar Singh Khalsa and civil society activist Rawail Singh. 
     
     
    More than 20 persons were injured. The attack was condemned by the UN.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Mobiles India: US-Based Avaya Set To Empower Growing Indian Mobile Workforce

    Mobiles India: US-Based Avaya Set To Empower Growing Indian Mobile Workforce
    India, which is a mobile-first country, will soon have millions working on their smartphones from anywhere, any time, and global communications technology firm Avaya is all geared up to tap the huge potential, a top executive has stressed.

    Mobiles India: US-Based Avaya Set To Empower Growing Indian Mobile Workforce

    Donald Trump Administration Reconfirms Its Intent To Rescind H4 Rule

    Donald Trump Administration Reconfirms Its Intent To Rescind H4 Rule
    The move will have a major impact on Indian-American women as they are the major beneficiary of the Obama-era rule.

    Donald Trump Administration Reconfirms Its Intent To Rescind H4 Rule

    India Can Begin Extradition Process Against Nirav Modi: Britain Authority

    The Central Bureau of Investigation has begun the process of filing an extradition request for Nirav Modi, which will then have to be approved by the UK Home Office following which an extradition warrant can be issued.

    India Can Begin Extradition Process Against Nirav Modi: Britain Authority

    Sikhs For Justice Activists Threaten Ludhiana MP Ravneet Bittu

    Sikhs For Justice Activists Threaten Ludhiana MP Ravneet Bittu
    A fresh threat issued by Sikh radicals to Ludhiana MP Ravneet Bittu during an event, “Referendum 2020-Khalistan”, in California on June 10 has alerted the intelligence agencies. 

    Sikhs For Justice Activists Threaten Ludhiana MP Ravneet Bittu

    VIDEO: Indian Student Rickesh Advani Racially Abused For Defending Hijab-Clad Woman In UK

    VIDEO: Indian Student Rickesh Advani Racially Abused For Defending Hijab-Clad Woman In UK
    A 28-year-old Indian-origin student in the UK has been racially attacked by a white man, shouting “Brexit, go back home” after the Briton made sexist remarks towards a hijab-clad woman, media reports said.

    VIDEO: Indian Student Rickesh Advani Racially Abused For Defending Hijab-Clad Woman In UK

    Indian-Origin Man Parmjit Singh Brar To Pay $136000 For Duping Americans In Tech Scam

    Indian-Origin Man Parmjit Singh Brar To Pay $136000 For Duping Americans In Tech Scam
    An Indian-origin man has agreed to pay more than USD 136,000 and to a permanent ban on offering tech support services as part of a settlement with US federal authorities over allegations that he provided substantial assistance to an India-based tech support scam.

    Indian-Origin Man Parmjit Singh Brar To Pay $136000 For Duping Americans In Tech Scam