Police fire in air, arrest BJP councillor amid late-night standoff

Police fired warning shots in the air to disperse a crowd and arrested a BJP councillor in Thiruvananthapuram under the KAAPA. The councillor, who was facing preventive detention, was taken into custody from his residence after the Kerala High Court denied him anticipatory bail. A fresh case was filed against him and others for allegedly assaulting and obstructing public servants. The councillor's family accused police of excessive force, alleging they were assaulted and intimidated during the arrest.