Visas revoked, Pak Hindu family fears persecution again

Under the pale dawn light, a 15-member Pakistani Hindu family stands outside their makeshift huts in Hisar’s Balsamand village, dejected at the thought of being forced to return to their homeland in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

A short while later, they are all bundled into a Haryana Police bus and taken to a refugee camp in Delhi — the transit point from where they will be handed over to the Pakistani authorities by April 27. The family had reached Hisar in October last year and most of the members were working as daily-wagers. Content with their meagre earnings, they had wished never to return to their native place Sindh where they often faced religious persecution.

They had visas and had applied for long-term visas too, hoping to live forever in India. But that was not to be as the Indian Government suspended visa services for Pakistan after terrorists killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists, in Baisaran on April 22.

Hisar police officials confirmed that they facilitated the family’s transportation from the village to a refugee camp for Pakistani nationals. Balsamand police chowki in-charge Shesh Karan said the family was handed over to the Delhi authorities.

Shobha, one of the family members, said they had never dreamt they would have to return this way. “We are Hindus and were subjected to continuous harassment in Pakistan. Moreover, we faced socio-economic hardships,” she said.

The family had entered India through Rajasthan and spent some time in Delhi. They later moved to Balsamand village after coming in contact with a local resident, Shamsher, who facilitated their relocation.