Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Rush Hour: Manipur Audio Clip, Ink Attack, Supreme Court Rulings
A news roundup from India tells us about several big stories happening around the same time.
One story is about a recording connected to Manipur, a place where there has been fighting between different groups of people.
The recording seemed to blame the former leader N Biren Singh, but the government says it was changed and is not real, and computer experts found 41 changes in it.
Another story is about a student leader named Neha Bora, who had ink thrown at her during a protest about exam problems in Jharkhand, and the police caught the man who did it.
A judge also told a politician named Mahua Moitra that she must go to the police in person instead of appearing by video call.
A former leader named Bhupesh Baghel was told to argue his election case in a different court.
A news website called Scroll says Instagram removed four of its posts because of rules from the Indian government.
One of those posts was about people hurt by pellet guns in Kashmir who still have not received money even ten years later.
These are the main stories of the day from India.
The Centre told the Supreme Court an audio clip allegedly linking former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh to ethnic violence was manipulated, citing 41 alterations found by an expert at the Central Forensic Science Laboratories.
Ink was thrown at student leader Neha Bora during a protest in Ranchi against alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment exams; police detained the alleged attacker, who said he targeted her over her support for jailed activist Umar Khalid.
The Supreme Court refused Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra's request to appear virtually before police over purportedly provocative remarks made in July, with the bench questioning her fear of eggs.
The Supreme Court dismissed former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's petition and said he could raise his objections to the election challenge before the Chhattisgarh High Court.
Instagram has blocked four posts by Scroll since June, including an August 6 post about pellet gun victims in Kashmir awaiting compensation, citing automated restrictions under India's Information Technology Rules.
- Who
- The Union government, former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, student leader Neha Bora, MP Mahua Moitra, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, and news outlet Scroll, with the Supreme Court presiding over several cases.
- What
- A daily roundup covering the Centre's claim that an audio clip on Biren Singh was manipulated, an ink attack on a student protester, Supreme Court rulings on Moitra and Baghel, and Instagram blocks on Scroll posts.
- When
- Reported in a recent daily briefing; referenced events span June through August, including a July 5 post restriction and an August 6 post, while the Chhattisgarh election in question was held on November 17, 2023.
- Where
- India — Manipur, Ranchi in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Kashmir, and the Supreme Court.
- Why
- The stories stem from the probe into Manipur's ethnic violence, protests over alleged Jharkhand recruitment exam irregularities, remarks by an MP, a challenge to the 2023 Chhattisgarh election result, and content restrictions under the IT Rules.
Petitioners and Critics
Government and Platform
Manipur audio clip authenticity
Petitioners and Critics
Petitioners including the Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust pressed the case over the audio clip allegedly linking former Chief Minister N Biren Singh to ethnic violence, and the Supreme Court ordered the forensic report be shared with them.
Government and Platform
The Union government asserted the clip was manipulated, quoting an expert at the Central Forensic Science Laboratories who identified 41 alterations, with the National Forensic Sciences University filing a report evaluating the clip's authenticity.
Ink attack at Ranchi protest
Petitioners and Critics
Student leader Neha Bora alleged the attacker shouted 'Jai Shri Ram' after throwing ink at her during a protest against alleged recruitment exam irregularities.
Government and Platform
The detained man said he had targeted Bora because of her support for jailed activist Umar Khalid.
Instagram content restrictions
Petitioners and Critics
Scroll said Instagram blocked four of its posts since June, including an August 6 post about pellet gun victims in Kashmir awaiting compensation, restricting access to its reporting.
Government and Platform
Instagram told Scroll the content was restricted in India 'through an automated system implemented pursuant to legal requirements' under the Union government's Information Technology Rules.
- Audio clip alterations reported
- 41
- Forensic body
- Central Forensic Science Laboratories; forensic report filed by National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar
- Ink attack target
- Neha Bora, president of the All India Students' Association, in Ranchi
- Moitra's request
- Virtual appearance before police; refused by the Supreme Court
- Baghel election challenge
- Victory from the Patan constituency in the 2023 Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, challenged by the BJP's Vijay Baghel
- Instagram blocks on Scroll
- 4 posts since June, citing India's Information Technology Rules
- Kashmir pellet gun victims
- Most still awaiting compensation even a decade after injury