| Fear of forced conversion drives Pak Hindus to India |
848 Hindus have taken refuge in Jodhpur in the last three months.
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Jodhpur | 9th Sep 2012
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Hindu refugees who have fled from Pakistan, in New Delhi. Photograph: Abhishek Shukla
he fear of losing their faith through forced conversion is making
Pakistani Hindus leave for India by the droves. Carrying horrific tales
of conversion to Islam, rape, extortion and bonded labour, 848 Hindu
migrants have taken refuge in Rajasthan's Jodhpur in the last three
months. In 2011, the total number of Pakistanis reaching Jodhpur was
325.
Jodhpur's Al Quasar Nagar has 50 houses belonging to Pakistani
Hindus. Mohan Singh, who arrived here last month with his wife and a
three-year-old son, feels lucky to have crossed the border in time.
After the adverse publicity over Hindus migrating to India, the Pakistan
authorities are now making people sign a bond making it mandatory for
them to return to Pakistan within the stipulated period.
Mohan, who came to India on a pilgrim visa, has found security and support in the arms of a local NGO, Simant Lok Sangathan. Mohan says he had to flee because Hindus are being forced to embrace Islam. Rinkle Kumari's case is recounted with horror by the immigrants. The 19-year-old girl from Mirpur's Mathelo town disappeared on 24 February 2012, only to reappear as Faryal Shah. All those who have been helping the Sindhi Hindu family to reclaim the lost girl are being termed as infidels and "agents of America". Every Hindu girl, whether literate or not, is aware of Rinkle's fate. They too have been facing similar pressures. 16-year-old Teeja says that the honour of Hindu girls and women is not safe in Pakistan. "They abduct Hindu girls and women, rape them and force them to marry Muslims after conversion," says a tearful Naseeba. Hindu men too are in danger, as they are being forced into bonded labour. Some of them have been tortured in the private jails belonging to powerful landlords, says Raimal, who has taken refuge in Al Qausar Nagar along with 10 of his family members. He pleads with the Indian government to rescue the Hindus from across the border as most of them are poor and cannot afford the Rs 10,000 per person visa fee required to cross the border. Life in India is not easy for these people as they have to work as unskilled labourers. But many such as Khemu from Devi Nagar do not want to leave India even after their visas expire. Simant Lok Sangathan is fighting for their cause. Hindu Singh Soda, its president, has presented to the authorities a list of 138 migrants for visa extension, but is yet to get a reply. Source: http://www.sunday-guardian.com/investigation/fear-of-forced-conversion-drives-pak-hindus-to-india |
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