Two soldiers were tragically killed and two others injured when an Army vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Saturday.

The accident took place near the SK Payen area, leaving the soldiers with serious injuries. The injured personnel were promptly rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, while the loss of the two soldiers has left the entire region in mourning.

This unfortunate incident follows another similar tragedy that occurred just a month ago in Poonch. In that accident, five soldiers lost their lives, and five others were injured when their truck fell into a 300-foot gorge. The Army’s White Knight Corps paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, sharing a statement on social media expressing their deepest condolences for the “brave soldiers” who had been serving on operational duty in the Poonch sector.

The latest loss has drawn widespread expressions of grief from political leaders. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his sorrow, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi offered his heartfelt tributes to the martyrs. He also wished for a swift recovery for the injured soldiers and extended his deepest condolences to their grieving families.

These two incidents highlight the ongoing risks faced by soldiers in the line of duty, and the sacrifices made in protecting the nation. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the accident, while the military community comes together to mourn the tragic losses.

A 30-year-old Indian man, Badal Babu, from Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh district, is in judicial custody in Pakistan after illegally crossing the border to meet his Facebook friend, only to be rejected. The woman, identified as 21-year-old Sana Rani, told authorities she has no interest in marrying him.

The arrest took place in Mandi Bahauddin, a district in Pakistan’s Punjab province, roughly 240 kilometers from Lahore. Babu was detained under sections 13 and 14 of Pakistan’s Foreign Act for entering the country without proper documentation.

A Facebook friendship turns sour

According to Punjab police officer Nasir Shah, the duo had been friends on Facebook for over two and a half years. Babu, in love with Rani, decided to cross the border illegally to propose. However, Rani’s statement to the police made it clear she had no intention of marrying him.

Shah added, “Babu crossed into Pakistan illegally and reached Maung village, where he was apprehended. Whether he met Rani in person remains unclear.”

Family under scrutiny

Reports suggest that intelligence officials questioned Rani and her family about her relationship with Babu. Although there is speculation that Rani may have given her statement under duress, this remains unconfirmed.

Legal proceedings begin

Babu, who narrated his “love story” to authorities, was presented in court, which placed him in judicial custody for 14 days. His next hearing is scheduled for January 10.

A familiar tale across borders

Babu’s story echoes previous cross-border romances fostered through social media or online games.

• In a widely publicized case, Indian woman Anju traveled to Pakistan to marry Nasrullah, converting to Islam before tying the knot.
• Similarly, Seema Haider, a Pakistani woman, crossed into India via Nepal to marry her PUBG friend after bringing her four children along.
• Last year, 19-year-old Pakistani girl Iqra Jiwani married Indian national Mulayam Singh Yadav in Nepal after meeting him online.

While these cases highlight the unifying power of social media, they also underscore the legal and personal challenges of navigating cross-border relationships.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have intensified their war of words through posters and public statements as the Delhi assembly elections draw closer. The BJP has accused AAP of voter fraud, while AAP has hit back, alleging the BJP’s complicity in temple demolitions.

The BJP released a poster targeting AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, claiming that fraudulent voter entries were registered at a single address without the homeowner’s consent. The entries reportedly included individuals aged 40 to 80. BJP leaders labeled this as “a new strategy by Kejriwal to manipulate votes.”

In response, Arvind Kejriwal took to social media to accuse the BJP of double standards, particularly regarding its stance on religion. He argued that while BJP opposes honorariums for religious leaders, it also authorizes temple demolitions under the Lieutenant Governor’s (LG) directive.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi elaborated on the issue, alleging that the BJP-led central government had bypassed the elected Delhi government by empowering the LG to make decisions about temple demolitions. She stated that on November 22, the Religious Committee approved the demolition of several temples, including those in West Patel Nagar, Dilshad Garden, Sultanpuri, and a Buddhist temple in Sundar Nagari.

“The BJP claims to protect Hinduism but is actively destroying temples,” Atishi said at a press conference.

The BJP countered these claims by highlighting unfulfilled promises by the AAP government. BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi criticized Mr. Kejriwal for failing to deliver on issues such as water quality, women’s safety, slum rehabilitation, pollution control, and cleaning the Yamuna River.

“Instead of addressing these pressing issues, Kejriwal has focused on political theatrics,” Trivedi stated.

MP Praveen Khandelwal added to the criticism, calling AAP’s recent announcements, such as honorariums for religious leaders, a hollow strategy to gain votes. “The Delhi treasury is empty, and Kejriwal’s announcements are nothing more than electoral stunts,” he remarked.

With weeks to go before the polls, both parties are leveraging every opportunity to sway voters, setting the stage for a heated electoral battle in the capital.