Authorities on Friday suspended internet services across the entire Doda district, including Doda town, Bhaderwah, Bhalesa and Thatri, as a precautionary measure to maintain security, officials said.

“Internet services have been completely suspended across the entire Doda district, including Doda town, Bhaderwah, Bhalesa and Thatri, as a precautionary security measure,” officials said.

The suspension comes a day after a man was killed and three Special Operations Group (SOG) personnel were injured in a firing incident late Thursday night. According to officials, the man allegedly attempted to snatch a service rifle from security personnel during an encounter on the Jaie-Gandoh road.

The deceased was identified as Aarif Hussain (30), a resident of Cheeka village. He sustained bullet injuries during the scuffle and later succumbed to his injuries. The three injured SOG personnel are undergoing treatment.

Police have also detained a religious preacher in connection with the incident. However, officials said the individual’s exact role in the case is yet to be established.

Security has been strengthened across the district, with additional deployments of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, while search operations are continuing in the Jaie area.

The Ayodhya Police have moved a local court seeking a seven-day police remand for two accused, Tinnu Yadav and Manish Yadav, in connection with the alleged theft of donations from the Ram Temple.

The police, while submitting their plea, emphasised that custodial interrogation of the duo is essential to delve deeper into the matter.

“The police told the court that custodial interrogation is crucial to uncover the conspiracy, trace the money trail, and recover further evidence,” stated the Ayodhya Police.

On Wednesday, two more accused arrested in connection with the alleged embezzlement of donations meant for the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple were taken from the District Jail in Ayodhya after a court granted the police a 14-hour remand for custodial interrogation.

The accused have been identified as Subhash Chandra Srivastava, a retired bank employee who supervised the temple’s cash-counting operations, and Ramashankar Mishra.

Police officials escorted the duo from the jail to conduct day-long questioning as part of the investigation into the alleged misappropriation of temple donations.

So far, the police have interrogated four other accused, Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra and Karunesh Pandey, during their police custody remand.

Ayodhya court had extended the judicial custody of all eight accused in the Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case by 14 days on Monday. The accused appeared before the court through video conferencing and are scheduled to appear again on July 27.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple may submit its final report to the Uttar Pradesh government within the next 24 to 48 hours (on Thursday or Friday), sources said on Wednesday.

Sources also indicate that the SIT’s investigation timeline will not be extended any further. The SIT was granted an extension of 15 days on July 1 by the Uttar Pradesh government.

The extension was given to enable the SIT to widen the scope of its probe and conduct a comprehensive inquiry into all aspects of the case.

The preliminary report of the SIT into the Ram Mandir donation row has stated that prima facie, around 70 suspicious incidents were captured on CCTV between April 27 and June 5, 2026 and in CCTV footage, counting staff were seen concealing wads of cash.

The preliminary report points to lapses and says there was no frisking at entry and exit, poor control over personal belongings, and cash from multiple donation boxes counted together were among the reasons that made the crime possible.

The report mentions recovery of around Rs 78.94 lakh from some employees before the investigation. An additional Rs 2.25 lakh was allegedly recovered from the bathroom attached to the counting room on June 4, 2026.

The report also states that no prima facie evidence was found to support social media claims about missing silver bricks or other valuable offerings

Amid continuing attacks on merchant vessels and the heightened security situation in the Gulf, India’s Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) has advised ship owners, ship managers and Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) companies to avoid deploying Indian seafarers on vessels undertaking voyages through the Strait of Hormuz until further orders, saying the “safety, security and welfare of Indian seafarers” remain “central” to its mandate.

In a circular published on Wednesday, titled “DGMA Advisory on Precautionary Measures for the Safety and Security of Indian Seafarers in view of the Heightened Security Situation in the Gulf Region”, the Directorate said, “The safety, security and welfare of Indian seafarers, and the security of Indian ships, remain central to the mandate of the Directorate General of Maritime Administration.”
The advisory cited recent attacks on merchant vessels, including Mombasa B, Al Bahyah, GFS Galaxy, MT WEDYAN, and AL REKAYYAT, saying the incidents over the past few days had “increased the risks faced by seafarers and commercial ships operating in the conflict-affected area significantly.”

“In view of the heightened security situation in the Persian Gulf region, including incidents resulting in casualties among Indian seafarers and continuing attacks on merchant vessels during the ongoing conflict, the Directorate considers it necessary to adopt enhanced precautionary measures to safeguard the interests of Indian seafarers serving on board ships operating in the region,” the advisory said.

The DGMA directed masters of vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and adjoining waters to maintain a heightened level of security vigilance, continuously monitor navigational warnings, security advisories and updates issued by competent authorities, and implement all applicable Ship Security Measures, Ship Security Plans (SSP) and Company Security Procedures in accordance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

It said, “Masters of vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and adjoining waters shall maintain a heightened level of security vigilance, continuously monitor navigational warnings, security advisories and updates issued by the competent authorities, and implement all applicable Ship Security Measures, Ship Security Plans (SSP) and Company Security Procedures in accordance with the ISPS Code.”

“Ship Owners, Ship Managers and RPSL Companies are directed to avoid deploying Indian seafarers on vessels undertaking voyages involving passage through the Strait of Hormuz until further orders,” it added.

The advisory also asked seafarers and vessels to immediately contact the DG Communication Centre (MMDAC) or the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) for emergency assistance if required.

The advisory comes amid escalating military tensions between the United States and Iran following continued exchanges of strikes in recent days.

Actor Aamir Khan has expressed concern over educator and activist Sonam Wangchuk’s health amid his indefinite hunger strike, while clarifying that Wangchuk did not inspire his character Rancho in the blockbuster film 3 Idiots.

Aamir made the remarks during a special appearance at the closing ceremony of the London Indian Film Festival (LIFF), where Lagaan was screened to mark its 25th anniversary. During a post-screening interaction, the actor responded to audience questions about 3 Idiots and Sonam Wangchuk.

Addressing the long-held belief that Rancho was based on Wangchuk, Aamir said it was a misconception.

    “No, that is not true actually. That is a misconception. I didn’t know about Mr Sonam at that time when we were doing the film 3 Idiots. I saw a video of Chatur just recently, and he said that. But he is wrong. Maybe that is what Chatur was thinking, but I want to tell you that neither Raju nor Abhijat, who are the two writers, knew about Mr Sonam. However, what Mr Sonam is doing is good work in any case. He doesn’t have to be based on a character of 3 Idiots for us to respect him and the work that he does. I wanted to share this from a factual point of view,” Aamir said.

Responding to a question about Wangchuk’s ongoing hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, the actor voiced concern over his health.

“All of us are very concerned for his health and his life. We hope it ends well. All of us are hoping that he ends his fast,” he said.\\

Earlier this week, actor Omi Vaidya, who portrayed Chatur Ramalingam in 3 Idiots, had extended his support to Wangchuk through a video on social media. In the video, Omi stated that Aamir Khan’s character Funsukh Wangdu was inspired by Sonam Wangchuk and urged people to pay attention to the activist’s deteriorating health and the cause he is advocating.

Aamir’s remarks, however, have clarified that the makers of 3 Idiots were unaware of Sonam Wangchuk while developing the film and that the perceived connection between Wangchuk and Rancho is factually incorrect.

Educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday asserted that he would “stay alive till July 20 at any cost”, even as his indefinite hunger strike entered its 20th day amid a warning from doctors that his prolonged fast has reached a critical stage.

The Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar over alleged examination irregularities entered its 28th day, with Wangchuk urging people to ensure a massive turnout for the outfit’s proposed march to Parliament on July 20.

Addressing supporters at the protest site, Wangchuk acknowledged his weakening physical condition but said his resolve remained unshaken.

“I am weak from the outside but very strong inside. I am sure all of you are strong from the inside, and outside too. We need this energy for July 20, when we will take out a peaceful march to Parliament. We will go together and present our plea in the temple of democracy,” he said.

“I will stay alive till July 20 at any cost. If you don’t come and July 20 is not successful, I will come back as a ghost,” he said in a lighter vein, drawing cheers from the gathering.

On Thursday, doctors attending to Wangchuk had warned that his condition had entered a critical stage due to the prolonged fast and that the next phase could be alarming, with the possibility of organ damage if the hunger strike continued.

Wangchuk, however, had refused to call off the fast, saying that ending it without any response from the government would send a wrong message. He maintained that the focus should now be on making the July 20 Parliament march a success.

The issue has also reached the Delhi High Court, which directed authorities to monitor Wangchuk’s health daily and provide medical assistance if his condition deteriorates. EpaperSubscription Service

Meanwhile, the CPI(ML) Liberation-affiliated All India Students’ Association (AISA) said the condition of its members Neha, Manish and Aameen, who are also on an indefinite hunger strike at a separate stage of the protest site, had reached “severe stages”.

In a statement, AISA said Aameen was at risk of hypovolemic shock due to dehydration, Neha’s random blood sugar level had fallen to a dangerous 49 mg/dL and Manish had lost more than 10 per cent of his body weight.

“However, students are determined to remain in solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk until the government faces its crimes,” the organisation said.

The CJP has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide over alleged examination irregularities. The outfit has called for a peaceful march to Parliament on July 20, coinciding with the opening day of the Monsoon Session.

The CJP protest began on June 20, while Wangchuk joined the agitation on June 28 and has remained on an indefinite hunger strike since.

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Patiala House Court on Thursday reserved its order on the plea of Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, seeking permission to attend the upcoming Parliament session in custody in a terror funding case being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Special Judge (NIA) Prashant Sharma reserved the order after hearing submissions from counsel for Abdul Rashid Sheikh and the NIA. The order is expected to be pronounced at 4 pm.

Abdul Rashid Sheikh, through advocate Vikhyat Oberoi, sought permission to attend the Parliament session scheduled to commence on July 20.

Special Public Prosecutor Gautam Khazanchi, appearing for the NIA, submitted that the agency had no objection if the accused was permitted to attend the Parliament session in custody.

Sheikh had earlier been allowed to attend Parliament proceedings in custody. He was also granted interim bail to attend the last rites of his father.

Sheikh has been in judicial custody in the NIA case registered in 2017 following his arrest. The NIA has also filed a supplementary chargesheet against him in the case.