AMRITSAR: A 20-year-old Indian man who crossed into Pakistan illegally in pursuit of love now finds himself behind bars after his romantic hopes were dashed.
Badal Babu, from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, met Pakistani woman Sana Rani on social media more than two years ago. Their online relationship deepened, prompting Badal to take a perilous journey across the heavily guarded border with Pakistan, convert to Islam, and adopt the name Rehan, all in an effort to win Sana’s hand.
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However, his hopes crumbled when she rejected his marriage proposal, leaving him facing legal trouble and an uncertain future.
Badal’s Lahore-based lawyer, Fayaz Ramay, said his client had expressed a fear of returning to India, claiming he could be in danger due to his religious conversion. Ramay took on the case on humanitarian grounds and has also received power of attorney from Badal’s father, Kirpal Singh of Nagla Khitkary in Aligarh.
The lawyer cclaimed that Badal had entered Pakistan via the Attari-Wagah border and took up work as a shepherd near Sana’s home at Bilawal Colony in Mandi Bahauddin district of Pakistani Punjab. To avoid suspicion, he claimed falsely to be from Karachi with no family ties, until Pakistani authorities arrested him on Dec 27. Hazi Khan Asgar, who employed Badal as a shepherd, said the young man had approached him for work and, later, disclosed his romantic intentions. Asgar learned that Sana and her mother had invited Badal to Mandi Bahauddin initially, but upon discovering his circumstances, Sana had refused his proposal, leaving him stranded.
In a recent court hearing, Badal was allowed a video call with his parents in Aligarh, an emotional moment as he spoke to them in handcuffs outside the courthouse. Lawyer Ramay noted that Badal’s account of crossing the border illegally was being scrutinised. The expected charge sheet will clarify the circumstances of his entry. His next hearing is on Feb 21.