19:11⇢Manipur Burns After Meitei Leader's Arrest
⌨The newspapers report violence erupting across Manipur following the arrest of Kanan Singh, a dismissed police constable and leader of the radical Meitei group Arambai Tenggol, wanted for his role in 2023 violence and abducting a senior officer (Aaj Tak, Jagran, Jansatta, The Hindu). Protesters set fire to the collector's office, attempted self-immolation, and clashed with security forces, prompting authorities to suspend internet services and impose prohibitory orders across five districts in Imphal Valley. The unrest marks a significant escalation in the state's ongoing ethnic conflict, with headlines noting 300 deaths over two years. Meanwhile, a tourist couple from Indore remains missing in Meghalaya after reportedly refusing guide services, telling locals "we know the route, we don't need service" before disappearing (ABP Live, NDTV). The Karnataka government faces continued scrutiny over the Bengaluru RCB stampede, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah defending his attendance as merely an "invitee" while ordering probes into opposition allegations (Times of India, Zee News).