A Meitei community member, Mayanglambam Rishikanta Singh, was abducted from his home in Tuibong area and shot dead near Natjang village in Manipur's Kuki-majority Churachandpur district on Wednesday evening, police confirmed Thursday. The abduction and killing mark a fresh escalation in the state's ongoing ethnic tensions. Authorities suspect members of the United Kuki National Army is not part of the Suspension of Operations agreement between the Indian government, Manipur administration, and several Kuki-Zo militant groups carried out the attack. A Joint Action Committee formed following the killing has demanded immediate arrests and requested a central investigation into the case, as ethnic violence continues plaguing the northeastern state. (PC: Times Now)

Ten Indian Army soldiers were killed and nine injured when their vehicle fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district on Wednesday. The accident occurred at Khanni top along the Bhaderwah-Chamba interstate road. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha confirmed the deaths and extended condolences to the bereaved families, stating "we will always remember the outstanding service and supreme sacrifice of our brave soldiers." The injured soldiers were airlifted to hospital for treatment. Sinha directed senior officials to ensure the best possible medical care and prayed for their speedy recovery. The entire nation stands in solidarity with the families affected by this tragic accident.

At least 10 Indian Army personnel were killed and 10 others injured after a military vehicle fell into a deep gorge in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. The accident occurred near Khanni Top on the Bhaderwah–Chamba road while the vehicle was moving towards a forward post in a high-altitude area. Officials said the vehicle lost control on the narrow, winding mountain road and plunged nearly 200 feet into the gorge. Rescue operations were launched immediately by the Army, police, and local volunteers. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, with some airlifted for advanced treatment. Condolences poured in from senior officials and leaders.

The Supreme Court has allowed both Hindus and Muslims to offer prayers at the Bhojshala Temple–Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar on Friday. Hindus can pray from sunrise to sunset as Basant Panchami falls on the same day. Muslims have been permitted to offer Friday namaz between 1 pm and 3 pm. The court asked the Muslim community to submit a list of worshippers to the district administration. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant urged both sides to maintain peace and cooperate with authorities. The order came while hearing a plea seeking exclusive prayer rights for Hindus on the festival day. Security has been tightened in Dhar ahead of the prayers. (PC: NDTV)

A 38-year-old Meitei man was abducted by armed men in Manipur’s Churachandpur district and later shot dead, police said. The case came to light after a video showing the killing spread on social media. Police identified the victim as Mayanglambam Rishikanta, a resident of Kakching district. Officials said he was kidnapped on Wednesday evening and killed later the same night. The video shows the man pleading before at least two armed assailants before being shot. Rishikanta was married to a Kuki woman and had recently returned from Nepal on leave. Police have launched an investigation. The incident comes amid continuing ethnic violence in the state since May 2023.

Nearly 60 per cent of orders issued in the last three years by the News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority cited breaches of its communal harmony code. Records show the NBDSA passed 54 orders between January 2023 and December 2025. Of these, 32 cases involved religious stereotyping or communal narratives. The regulator is set up by the News Broadcasters and Digital Association. Most penalties directed channels to remove content fully or partly. Financial fines were imposed in only six cases, totalling Rs 3.2 lakh. The review also found long delays in decisions, often over 11 months, leaving disputed content online during review. (PC: The Indian Express)

Sanjeev Khirwar, a 1994-batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, has been appointed the new Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) by the Union Home Ministry, succeeding Ashwani Kumar. Khirwar returns to Delhi after being transferred to Ladakh in 2022, following a major public row in which he was accused of clearing Thyagraj Stadium early so he could walk his dog, prompting outrage over misuse of public facilities. His appointment comes as the MCD prepares its budget and tackles administrative and financial challenges. Public reactions remain mixed given his past controversy. (PC: India Today)

A Korean tourist has accused a Bengaluru airport staff member of molestation during a baggage check. The incident occurred on January 19 at Kempegowda International Airport, after immigration clearance. The woman, Kim Sung Kyung, spoke to India Today TV and allowed her name. Police identified the accused as Afan Ahmed, an airport staffer. The FIR says he claimed a beeping sound in her check-in bag. He warned a counter check could delay her flight. He then suggested a personal check near a washroom. The woman reported the matter immediately to airport security. The accused was detained and handed to police, who opened an investigation. (PC: India Today)

A 32-year-old South Korean woman was allegedly sexually assaulted by a ground staff member at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on January 19 while attempting to board a flight home. The accused, identified as Mohammed Affann Ahmed, an Air India SATS ground handler, reportedly approached her after immigration checks, claimed her bag beeped and offered a separate “manual frisking.” Instead of taking her to an authorised security area, he led her near the men’s washroom, touched her inappropriately, hugged her, and then walked off, according to the complaint. The woman immediately reported the incident, and CCTV footage supported her account. The airport security detained Ahmed and handed him to police, who registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and arrested him; further investigations are underway. 

In the early hours of Thursday, a private bus travelling from Nellore to Hyderabad suffered a tyre burst, lost control, jumped the median and collided head-on with an oncoming container truck near Shirivellametta in Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh. The impact caused a massive fire that engulfed both vehicles, killing the bus driver, the truck driver, and the truck cleaner, all charred beyond recognition. About 36 passengers were on board; several were injured, with more than 10 sustaining burn or jump-related injuries and taken to Nandyal Government Hospital. A passing DCM driver broke windows to help passengers escape safely. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation. (PC: HT)