Hello and welcome to the ABP News Live Blog. Follow this space to get the latest developments and breaking news from India, including Punjab Bandh, Covid’s latest update, Monkeypox and other developing stories across the country and abroad.

Valmiki Samaj Representatives Calls For ‘Punjab Bandh’ Today

Valmiki Samaj representatives in Punjab have called a state-wide bandh on August 12 (Friday) to protest against remarks made by former Punjab Advocate General against the community. According to reports, the bandh in Punjab will be organised between 9 am to 5 pm.

Called by Valmiki Tiger Force All India and Guru Ravidas Tiger Force Punjab following a meeting with Punjab Minister for NRI Affairs Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, the bandh has been organised in the wake of AG Anmol Rattan Sidhu’s statement about the community members being undeserving of the jobs in the AG office.

Tejashwi Invites ED, CBI, IT To Open Their Offices In His House

Newly appointed deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav invited ED, CBI and Income Tax to open their offices inside his residence and investigate whatever they want. “We have no objection with it,” Yadav said.

“We want the people of ED, CBI, Income Tax to open the offices inside my house. Still, if they would not get peace then what can I do? We have no objection with whatever they want to investigate against us,” Tejashwi said.

Delhi Logs 2,726 Fresh Covid Cases, 6 Deaths

Delhi on Thursday reported 2,726 fresh COVID-19 cases and six fatalities due to the viral disease, while the positivity rate stood at 14.38 per cent, according to data shared by the health department. This is the ninth consecutive day when the capital logged more than 2,000 cases in a day.

The city on Wednesday had reported eight fatalities due to the coronavirus infection, the highest in nearly 180 days, and 2,146 cases with a positivity rate of 17.83 per cent. The national capital on February 13 had recorded 12 deaths due to the viral disease.

4 Soldiers Killed In ‘Fidayeen’ Attack On J&K’s Army Camp In Rajouri

Terrorists attacked an Army camp in Rajouri district on Thursday killing four soldiers and the two attackers were gunned down in the shootout after the pre-dawn suicide strike that marked the return of ‘fidayeen’ to Jammu and Kashmir after more than three years.

Both the terrorists, who are believed to be from the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), were heavily armed with deadly ‘steel core’ bullets and were shot down after an over four-hour gun battle which started at 2 AM and ended just before 6.30 AM, police said. The attack came four days ahead of India’s 75th Independence Day next Monday.