Uttarakhand Police have arrested a 35-year-old man from Chhattisgarh’s Durg district for allegedly cheating a retired Subedar Major of the Army Medical Corps of ₹34.17 lakh through a fraudulent foreign investment scheme.

The accused, identified as Har Vilas Nandi, is believed to be the mastermind of an international cybercrime network, according to the cyber cell of Uttarakhand Police. Police recovered foreign currency from the UAE, Oman, and the USA, along with an Aadhaar card, PAN card, ATM card, UAE resident card, and a mobile phone.

Investigations revealed that Nandi had lived in Dubai for 10 years, with his Facebook and email accounts created there. His email ID, linked to his bank account, was operated from the Philippines, and the cheated funds were traced to his account before being withdrawn in Dubai. SSP (STF) Navneet Singh Bhullar said Nandi’s account had over ₹3.46 crore in transactions within a month and was linked to at least 37 cybercrime complaints nationwide. He had also allegedly paid Chhattisgarh labourers between ₹50,000 and ₹1 lakh for their bank accounts, later using them for fraudulent transfers.

Nandi had been absconding for a long period, hiding in the Naxal-affected Dantewada region. He was tracked through technical surveillance, arrested in Bhilai, and brought to Dehradun on transit remand.

The case began in 2024 when the retired Subedar Major lodged a complaint, stating he was duped by a fake foreign investment company, Apollo India Private Equity (IV) (Mauritius) Ltd, discovered through Facebook. The victim was approached by a woman posing as a trading assistant and a man as a customer service manager, eventually persuading him to invest in multiple transactions.

A mentor figure named “John Peter Hussain” even conducted trading sessions to gain the victim’s trust. Through coordination with banks, service providers, and Meta, investigators identified Nandi as the key suspect, uncovering that the fraud had cross-border operations spanning Dubai and the Philippines.

Police say the arrest marks a major breakthrough against organised cybercrime networks targeting ex-servicemen and other vulnerable individuals across India.

Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is signaling a strategic pivot toward India’s eastern frontier, leveraging recent political changes in Bangladesh and a thaw in relations with Washington to recalibrate Islamabad’s military approach.

In an interview with The Economist, Pakistan’s military spokesman Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry remarked, “We’ll start from the East,” hinting at the possibility of opening a new front along India’s vulnerable northeastern corridor. The move follows Bangladesh’s early-2025 regime change, which brought to power a hardline Islamist administration more sympathetic to Pakistan’s interests. This shift has reportedly revived cross-border militant logistics, arms trafficking, and madrassa networks along the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Munir’s eastern strategy is built on three pillars: rebuilding ties with Dhaka, regaining U.S. strategic patronage, and shifting toward hybrid warfare. His June 2025 meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump, coupled with a state honor for CENTCOM commander General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, marked a significant warming in U.S.–Pakistan relations. Trump’s public criticism of New Delhi and hints at economic leverage have further emboldened Islamabad.

Military analysts note Pakistan’s growing emphasis on irregular tactics—cyber-attacks, disinformation campaigns, and proxy infiltrations—designed to strain India’s security resources. This approach follows India’s successful Operation Sindoor, which showcased long-range strike capabilities, potentially deterring conventional offensives.

India has responded by reinforcing surveillance and troop presence in Assam and Meghalaya, expanding riverine patrols along the Brahmaputra valley, and conducting joint drills with Myanmar. Diplomatically, New Delhi is engaging ASEAN and Gulf partners to curb Islamabad’s regional maneuvering.

Experts warn that Pakistan’s “start from the East” doctrine could escalate tensions between two nuclear-armed nations. While hybrid tactics may bypass conventional deterrence, India’s proven readiness to retaliate beyond the Line of Control remains a significant risk factor for Islamabad.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved the recruitment of 58,000 additional personnel for the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) over the next five years, anticipating the development of new industrial hubs in areas currently affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE). The move follows President Droupadi Murmu’s sanction to increase the CISF’s authorised strength from 2 lakh to 2.2 lakh.

With the present CISF strength at 1.62 lakh, the expansion will see around 14,000 personnel inducted annually. A senior CISF official said the new recruits will strengthen security in key sectors including aviation, sea ports, thermal and hydro power plants, nuclear installations, and high-security prisons in Jammu and Kashmir.

The geographical spread of LWE violence has reduced significantly over the past decade, from 126 districts across ten States in 2013 to 38 districts in 2024. With Home Minister Amit Shah setting a March 2026 deadline to end Maoist activities in Chhattisgarh, the government expects industrial growth in these areas, requiring enhanced CISF deployment.

The CISF recruited 13,230 personnel in 2024, with another 24,098 currently in process. Demand for CISF security has surged following Operation Sindoor, with 35 requests under process and nearly 100 pending from public sector units and private organisations.

Over the past year, the CISF has taken charge at seven new locations, including the Parliament House complex, Ayodhya airport, NTPC’s coal mining project in Hazaribagh, the National Institute of Virology in Pune, the Buxar and Jawahar thermal power projects, and the Beas Satluj Link project in Mandi.

Established in 1969 with just three battalions, the CISF today secures 359 critical establishments across India, providing integrated security to vital infrastructure and strategic projects.

India has issued a sharp rebuttal to fresh criticism from the United States and the European Union over its continued purchase of Russian oil, calling the pressure “unjustified and unreasonable”. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) asserted that India’s energy imports are driven solely by national interests and energy security, rejecting US President Donald Trump’s latest accusations.

The strongly worded statement came hours after Trump accused India of buying “massive amounts” of Russian crude and reselling it for “big profits”. The US President has already announced a 25% tariff on Indian goods from August 1, 2025, citing what he called unfair trade practices and India’s “anti-American” alignment with the BRICS grouping.

The MEA explained that India turned to discounted Russian oil after the Ukraine conflict disrupted traditional supply chains, with many Middle Eastern suppliers diverting cargoes to Europe. The ministry pointed out that Washington had initially encouraged such purchases to stabilize global energy markets, but is now criticising India despite its own ongoing trade with Russia.

Highlighting what it called Western hypocrisy, the statement cited 2024 EU–Russia bilateral trade in goods worth €67.5 billion, along with €17.2 billion in services. It noted that European imports of Russian LNG reached a record 16.5 million tonnes in 2024, surpassing previous highs. The ministry also listed European imports of fertilizers, chemicals, steel, and machinery from Russia, as well as continued US imports of uranium hexafluoride, palladium, and fertilizers.

The MEA stressed that India’s oil imports are essential to maintain affordable and stable fuel prices for its 1.4 billion citizens, adding that, like any major economy, India has the right to safeguard its national interests.

The latest exchange marks a sharp escalation in trade tensions between New Delhi and Washington, with the potential to impact billions in bilateral trade. India has yet to announce any countermeasures but signaled it will continue sourcing energy based on economic needs rather than political pressure.

A viral claim suggesting that a “drunk Army officer rammed a car into 30 people in Nagpur” has been found to be false and misleading. Official clarifications from the Indian Army and Nagpur Police have confirmed that the incident has been grossly misrepresented in both social and mainstream media.

According to verified details, the individual involved is a soldier who was on leave at the time. He was allegedly assaulted by four civilians during a personal altercation. Following the incident, the soldier filed an FIR against the four individuals involved in the assault.

Nagpur Police officials have confirmed that there is no record of a vehicular incident involving injuries to 30 people caused by the soldier. They also clarified that no such complaint or report had been filed regarding a mass casualty event as claimed in the viral posts.

The Indian Army has responded strongly to the false narrative, requesting that all reporting on such matters be based on verified information. It emphasized that unverified and sensational headlines not only mislead the public but also damage the image of the armed forces.

The Army urged media outlets and individuals on social media to avoid jumping to conclusions or spreading rumours, especially when it involves uniformed personnel.

The incident serves as a reminder of the growing need for fact-checking and responsible journalism in the age of instant social media sharing.

The Indian Armed Forces have firmly denied circulating or authoring any report detailing the identities and backgrounds of the terrorists involved in the recent Pahalgam attack.

A document currently making rounds on media and social media platforms, which claims to outline details of the attackers and attributes the report to the Services, has been declared unauthorised.

“No authorised media handle of the Indian Armed Forces has prepared or issued any such document. Neither have any remarks of this nature been made by the Armed Forces Public Relations Offices or nominated spokespersons,” the official clarification stated.

According to the Armed Forces, the content appears to be a post-encounter compilation derived from open-source materials and not an official communication. The military urged the public and media to rely solely on authenticated sources for information regarding security operations.

Farzeen Gafoor, a 28-year-old nursing assistant with the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune, who had been missing for 24 days, returned home under mysterious circumstances on Saturday night. Found standing alone near his house in Guruvayoor, Farzeen appeared disoriented and had no recollection of where he had been or how he got back.

His father Gafoor, who had returned from Muscat after learning of his son’s disappearance, was the first to spot him. “He was just standing by the roadside, in casual clothes, without any luggage or ID. When I called out, he recognised me, but couldn’t recall anything about the last few weeks,” he said.

Farzeen had gone missing during a journey to Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, where he was to undergo a three-month training programme at the Military Hospital. He had left Pune on July 9 and boarded a train from Mumbai on July 10. His last contact was a phone call to his wife, Zareena, in which he mentioned being tired and planning to sleep. The next morning, his phone signal was briefly detected near Izzatnagar railway station before it was switched off.

When he returned, Farzeen seemed physically unharmed but mentally withdrawn. “He doesn’t talk properly and gives disconnected answers. A doctor has prescribed medication, and we’re considering taking him to a military hospital,” Gafoor said.

The family had earlier filed a missing person case with Guruvayoor police under Section 57 of the Kerala Police Act, 2011. The investigation was later transferred to Izzatnagar police in Uttar Pradesh. Authorities have now been informed of his return and will oversee further legal procedures.

Farzeen had joined the Army five years ago while pursuing a degree in Biochemistry. He is married to Zareena, a dietitian, who is currently six months pregnant. The family, still shaken, hopes medical evaluation will shed light on what happened during the 24 days he was missing.