The Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, visited the residence of late MLA Vungzagin Valte in Churachandpur district on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, to pay tribute to the departed legislator. Bhalla laid a wreath, offered a ceremonial shawl over the mortal remains, met family members and expressed his condolences, praying for the soul’s peace and strength for the bereaved. Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh also paid his respects.
Valte’s death has rekindled grief and anger among tribal communities in Manipur nearly three years after he was brutally assaulted during the ethnic violence that erupted on May 3, 2023. The 61-year-old Zomi leader, who represented the Thanlon constituency in Churachandpur and was associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), had been airlifted to the National Capital Region for advanced treatment after his condition worsened and later died from complications linked to the earlier attack.
The violence in Manipur began after protests by tribal groups against a Manipur High Court recommendation to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the Meitei community. Tribal organisations feared the change would dilute constitutional safeguards such as reservations in jobs, education and legislative representation, and could allow non-tribals to buy protected hill land.
What followed were months of intense clashes between Meitei groups in the Imphal Valley and Kuki-Zo tribal communities in the hill districts. The conflict left around 260 people dead and displaced over 60,000 people, mostly Christian tribals. Thousands of houses and hundreds of churches and institutions were destroyed. A buffer zone remains between the Meitei-dominated valley and the tribal-majority hill areas, underscoring continued mistrust.
Valte was reportedly attacked by a mob in Imphal in May 2023 while returning from a meeting with the then chief minister, and several tribal bodies say his death is a grim reminder of the insecurity their communities faced during the conflict. The Manipur government has declared three days of state mourning and ordered the national flag to be flown at half-mast on government buildings.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/story/manipur-governor-visits-residence-of-late-mla-vungzagin-valte-to-pay-tribute-1351159-2026-02-24?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-02-24 18:52:00
