Ludhiana: Police have arrested a local pastor and booked his wife following allegations that they kidnapped a woman, held her in illegal confinement for weeks, and coerced her into signing legal documents under duress.The arrest of Chaman Kumar on Thursday evening followed a volatile standoff at his residence in the Kartar Nagar area. His wife, Harpreet Kaur, has also been named as an accused in the case. The breakthrough came after local residents and a Nihang group intervened to rescue the victim, identified as Salima, of Amloh Road.Forced Confinement and ThreatsAccording to the police complaint, the ordeal began on Jan 7. Salima has alleged that she was lured from her home by the couple under the pretext of attending a prayer service at a church in Machhiwara Sahib. Once there, the situation turned violent. Salima’s statement to the police detailed a harrowing experience of coercion, captivity, and intimidation.She was allegedly beaten up and forced to sign documents without being allowed to read them. After being kept at an undisclosed location outside Khanna for several days, she was moved to the accused’s home. When Salima’s father attempted to rescue her, the accused reportedly pushed him away and threatened the family.A Volatile RescueTensions peaked on Jan 29 when a large crowd of residents gathered outside the pastor’s house demanding the woman’s release. Witnesses described a “volatile” scene where the accused allegedly climbed onto the roof and pelted the crowd — and at least one police officer — with bricks.The situation was eventually de-escalated by jathedar Baba Sarabjit Singh of the Dashmesh Tarna Dal. Upon being informed by locals of the illegal confinement, the Jathedar intervened, secured Salima’s release, and reunited her with her father and brother.The girl’s parents claimed they had been denied access to their daughter since her disappearance. Despite lodging a complaint at the Khanna City 2 police station, the family claimed progress was slow, prompting them to seek assistance from Nihang organisations during a protest outside the local court complex. Sarabjit Singh, a representative of a Nihang group, said his organization was already conducting a hunger strike on separate matters when the parents approached him for help.The Nihang groups claimed to have arrived at the location and reportedly rescued the girl despite facing resistance from those inside the house. “I was not allowed to meet anyone or step outside,” the girl stated. The rescue occurred on Thursday when the girl’s mother managed to reach the house; the victim signalled her to stay at the location, leading to her eventual recovery.Community Backlash and Legal ActionKhanna senior superintendent of police, Darpan Ahluwalia, has confirmed that Chaman Kumar was taken into custody on Thursday. Police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 137 (2) (kidnapping), 87 (abducting or inducing a woman to compel marriage/action), and 308 (extortion).In the wake of the arrest, the local Pastor Association issued a formal letter disavowing the couple. During an emergency meeting led by association president Pastor Prem, the group stated they have “no relation” with the accused and condemned the alleged acts. The association appealed to all members of the community to “sever all ties with the accused immediately”.
