In a tragic incident, two men were killed, and another was injured when unidentified armed miscreants opened indiscriminate fire on them in Haryana’s Yamunanagar on Thursday.

The incident was captured on CCTV and surfaced on social media, showing three victims exiting a gym and approaching their vehicle when 4-5 masked assailants arrived on motorcycles and fired multiple rounds at them. The attack occurred in Yamunanagar’s Lakha Singh Khedi.

Reportedly, while two of the men succumbed to their injuries, the third remains in critical condition and is undergoing treatment at a hospital. The assailants fled the scene after the attack, and an investigation has been initiated.

The police officials said that the motive for the killings is still unclear. The deceased, both in their mid-30s, have not been identified publicly yet.

Previously, on late Sunday night, three people, including a woman, were shot dead by unidentified assailants in the parking lot of a hotel in Haryana’s Panchkula, police said.

Reportedly, the victims were identified as Vicky and Vipin, both residents of Delhi, and Nia from Hisar. The police confirmed that the trio was killed by unknown attackers in the hotel’s parking area.

In another separate incident on December 8, a businessman was arrested on Sunday for allegedly killing his friend in Fatehabad on Saturday evening, police reported. The accused were identified as Palvinder alias Pampa, fatally shot Manoj Bansal, a 45-year-old originally from Jharkhand, at his shop. Manoj Bansal had been living with his family in Fatehabad for several years.

As per a complaint filed by the deceased’s nephew, Sandeep Kumar, another friend, Nishant Singla, informed him about the incident. Sandeep Kumar said that in the CCTV footage, it is clear that Palvinder took out his pistol and fired at his maternal uncle while sitting next to him on the bed. He said that three other people sitting there were shocked as Palvinder opened fire at his maternal uncle, adding that they had no enmity with him.

Furthermore, Fatehabad SHO Prahlad Rai confirmed that the accused had been arrested, and a murder case was registered. He added that they will determine the motive behind the killing during interrogation.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday asserted the importance of not just hard work, but also a well-defined and timely strategy required to strengthen the grand old party, saying there is a need to give a chance to new power and to bring forth local and new leadership.

He outlined his vision for the upcoming year, declaring 2025 as the year for organisational empowerment, with plans to fill all vacant positions within the party and fully implement the Udaipur Declaration.

Kharge stressed that the organisation must be equipped with the skills necessary for electoral success, from the All India Congress Committee (AICC) to local booths.

He highlighted the need to include individuals who are ideologically committed and ready to defend the Constitution, as well as those who share the Congress Party’s vision of India. “These individuals must be integrated into the party’s activities and mainstream efforts.”

Addressing the party’s supporters at the meeting of the extended Congress Working Committee in Belagavi to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s presidency, Kharge noted the ongoing discussions from the previous Working Committee meeting on strengthening the organisation.

The Congress chief referred to the collective decision to actively combat the atmosphere of disappointment following electoral setbacks in Haryana and Maharashtra.

With determination and creativity, the Congress has managed to push the government back and rejuvenate the Opposition’s energy during the last parliamentary session.

Kharge acknowledged the power of ideas and the legacy of the Gandhi-Nehru lineage as vital to the party’s identity and future.

As the Congress reconvenes in Belgaum for the ‘Nav Satyagraha,’ Kharge expressed a resolve to challenge misleading narratives propagated by those in power, stating that “those who have taken an oath to uphold the Constitution have been the ones spreading falsehoods”.

He invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s belief that “Truth survives even when it does not have public support,” reaffirming the Congress’s commitment to truth alongside the overwhelming support of the people.

Kharge urged unity against the Opposition’s lies and called for a confident and bold approach to overcoming the challenges ahead, expressing optimism that the Congress will ultimately succeed in this endeavor.

Telangana CM Revanth Reddy has assured Tollywood actors and filmmakers that his government stands with the Telugu film industry and made it clear that there will be no compromise on law and order.

The Chief Minister held a meeting with Tollywood actors and filmmakers on Thursday amid strained ties between the ruling dispensation and the tinseltown following the arrest of Pushpa 2 actor Allu Arjun. CM Revanth Reddy said that celebrities must control their fans and the industry must be responsible.

The meeting took place at Telangana State Police Command and Control Centre at Banjara Hills in Hyderabad. The delegation of influential people from Tollywood was led by Telangana Film Development Corporation (FDC) chairman Dil Raju. Actors such as Nagarjuna, Varun Tej, Sai Dharam Tej, Kalyan Ram, Shiva Balaji, Adavi Sesh, Nithin, and Venkatesh among other attendees.

The meeting also included directors Koratala Siva, Anil Ravipudi, K Raghavendra Rao, Prashanth Varma, Sai Rajesh, and producers Suresh Babu, KL Narayana, Damodhar, Allu Aravind, BVSN Prasad, and Chinna Babu, among others.

Earlier on December 4, when Allu Arjun attended the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule at Sandhya Theatre, a massive crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of the actor, and chaos ensued when he waved to fans from the sunroof of his car. This resulted in the tragic death of a 35-year-old woman and injuries to her eight-year-old child.

Furthermore, some ruling Congress leaders have found fault with Allu Arjun’s comments last week, describing the stampede incident as purely accidental and denying the allegations made by CM Revanth Reddy on the roadshow before the film screening.

This incident has also sparked political controversy. Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy blamed Allu Arjun for the tragedy, stating in the Assembly that police had denied permission for any event at Sandhya Theatre due to safety concerns. However, the actor dismissed the allegations, calling them an attempt at character assassination.