Manipur Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator and veteran tribal leader Vungzagin Valte will finally be laid to rest on Saturday, 5 July, in Churachandpur district — 134 days after he died from injuries sustained during the state's ongoing ethnic violence, the Zomi Council, an apex tribal body, confirmed on Friday. His burial marks the end of a prolonged ordeal that began with a mob attack in Imphal on 4 May 2023.

The Attack and Its Aftermath

Valte, a 62-year-old three-time legislator from the Thanlon Assembly constituency, was critically set upon by a mob in Imphal shortly after attending a meeting with then Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on 4 May 2023. The assault left him with multiple grievous injuries and partial paralysis. His driver was also killed in the attack.

Following the assault, Valte was urgently transferred to Delhi for intensive medical treatment. He subsequently relocated to the Kuki-Zo-dominated Churachandpur district after discharge, but as his condition deteriorated, he was airlifted back to New Delhi on 8 February and admitted to a private hospital in Gurugram, where he passed away on 21 February.

Where Valte Will Be Buried

Zomi Council Secretary (Information and Publicity) Mary Jones Vung said in a statement on Friday: 'Valte will be buried at a cemetery in Dorcas Veng village in Churachandpur district on Saturday afternoon.' His mortal remains have been kept at the Churachandpur District Hospital since being brought from Delhi following his death.

The council extended an open invitation to 'family members, relatives, friends, well-wishers, church leaders, community leaders and representatives of various organisations' to attend and 'stand in solidarity with his family during this time of grief.'

Demand for Justice and CBI Probe

The Zomi Council has reiterated its demand that the Union Government expedite the ongoing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the brutal attack on the legislator. In a memorandum submitted to Union Home Minister Amit Shah through the Churachandpur district authorities, the council alleged that justice has yet to be delivered.

The council noted that Valte was not merely an elected representative but 'a senior tribal legislator and a respected voice of the Zo people,' comprising the Kuki, Zomi, Mizo, and Hmar tribal communities.

Official Condolences and State Response

Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla had earlier visited Valte's residence in Churachandpur, laying a wreath and offering a ceremonial shawl on his mortal remains. Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who had travelled to Delhi on 21 February, also visited the hospital in Gurugram to pay his last respects.

The Broader Context: Manipur's Ethnic Crisis

Valte's death is one of the most prominent casualties of Manipur's prolonged ethnic conflict between the valley-based Meitei community and the tribal Kuki-Zo people living in the hill districts. According to reports, at least 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless since May 2023. The burial, coming over four months after his death, underscores the deep fractures that continue to define daily life in the state.

With the CBI probe still underway and no convictions reported in the attack on Valte, tribal groups say accountability remains elusive — a sentiment likely to persist well beyond Saturday's burial.