4 Army personnel, including Captain Brijesh Thapa, died in a gunfight with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district. The encounter began when troops launched a search operation in the Desa forest. The clash, claimed by the 'Kashmir Tigers', a Jaish-e-Mohammad group, lasted 20 minutes. Despite the challenging terrain, the troops pursued the terrorists, leading to more gunfire. Five soldiers were critically injured, and four later died. Security forces are continuing their operation as more terrorists are believed to be hiding in the area. The situation remains tense.

Jyotirmath Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand has claimed that 228 kgs of gold are missing from the Kedarnath temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in Uttarakhand. His accusation comes amid protests against constructing a Kedarnath temple in Delhi. The Shankaracharya criticized the lack of an inquiry into the missing gold and expressed concerns over potential scams with the new temple. His statements coincided with a meeting with Uddhav Thackeray, where he voiced support for Thackeray becoming Maharashtra CM again and criticized the betrayal he faced.

The CBI arrested engineer Pankaj Kumar for stealing a NEET-UG question paper from the National Testing Agency's trunk in Bihar. Kumar, a 2017 NIT Jamshedpur graduate, and his accomplice Raju Singh, who distributed the leaked paper, were caught in Patna and Jamshedpur. The paper leak originated at Oasis school in Hazaribagh, where staff failed to report broken seals on question paper sets. The NEET-UG exam, held on May 5, has faced multiple cheating allegations, with over 60 arrests made so far. The CBI continues to investigate irregularities in the exam.

Maharashtra has paused the district training of IAS officer Puja Khedkar amid accusations of fraud in her UPSC exam. Khedkar is alleged to have misrepresented herself under the physical disabilities and OBC categories. The Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) recalled her for further action. Pune Police will investigate the authenticity of her medical certificates. A government panel will review her case and report in two weeks. Khedkar claims a media trial against her and insists that "truth will prevail."

Mihir Shah, accused in the BMW hit-and-run case, has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days. On July 7, Shah's BMW allegedly hit a two-wheeler in Worli, killing a 45-year-old woman and injuring her husband. He evaded arrest for three days before being traced to an apartment in Virar. Police used mobile phone location to track him down. Shah is the son of a Shiv Sena politician. The case has sparked outrage and highlights the issue of reckless driving and VIP culture. The police investigation is ongoing.

The Congress has condemned the killing of four soldiers in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda, demanding the government take full responsibility for the security lapse. Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed condolences to the families of the martyred soldiers, including an officer. The latest incident comes a week after a terrorist ambush in Kathua district claimed five soldiers' lives. The Congress is seeking strict action against the culprits and a thorough investigation into the repeated security lapses. The party is holding the government accountable for the tragic loss of life.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has condoled the deaths of Indian Army soldiers in a counter-terrorist operation in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir. The Army Chief informed Singh about the situation and ongoing operations. Singh expressed grief and praised the soldiers' courage. The operation is ongoing to eliminate terrorism and restore peace in the region. Singh's condolence message was posted on social media, expressing solidarity with the bereaved families. The incident occurred in Urrar Baggi, Doda, with the Army committed to completing the mission.

Puja Khedkar, a trainee IAS officer accused of faking disabilities to secure a government job, has reached out to police in Washim, Maharashtra. A team of three women officers visited her residence on Monday night, staying for two hours. Khedkar, 23, had requested the meeting, claiming she had information to share. No details of the meeting have been disclosed. Khedkar faces allegations of lying about mental and visual disabilities and misusing her position. While no police case has been filed yet, Pune police plan to take action over pending traffic fines. The investigation is ongoing.

A 32-year-old engineer was arrested for posting a hoax bomb threat on social media regarding Anant Ambani's wedding. The post, made on X (formerly Twitter), suggested a disruptive scenario if a bomb exploded at the wedding. Mumbai Police deemed the threat a hoax but heightened security measures at the venue. The arrest was made after a concerned citizen tipped off the police. The engineer was charged with making a false threat and disturbing public peace. The wedding took place without incident at the Bandra-Kurla Complex.

The Supreme Court has sought responses from the CBI and ED on AAP leader Manish Sisodia's bail petitions in the Delhi excise policy case. Sisodia, in jail for 16 months, has sought revival of his bail pleas in the corruption and money laundering cases filed by the two agencies. His lawyer argued for bail citing long incarceration. The court's move comes as a significant development in the high-profile case. The CBI and ED have been directed to file their replies, paving the way for a possible hearing on Sisodia's bail pleas.