Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Saturday, 5 July 2025, attended the funeral of slain Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Vungzagin Valte in Churachandpur, reiterating that dialogue remains the only viable route to restoring lasting peace in the conflict-torn state. Singh became the first sitting Chief Minister to visit the Kuki-Zo tribal-dominated district since ethnic violence erupted in Manipur on 3 May 2023.

A Historic Visit to Churachandpur

Singh travelled to Churachandpur by helicopter, as he was required to return to Imphal later in the day for a virtual meeting convened by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The visit, widely noted for its symbolic weight, marked the first time a Chief Minister had set foot in the Kuki-Zo heartland since the ethnic conflict began over two years ago.

Accompanied by MLA Tongbram Robindro, Singh offered floral tributes and prayed for the departed soul. Addressing the gathering, he described Valte as 'a very calm person' and recalled their close association dating back to 2017, when Singh first became Speaker of the Manipur Assembly.

The Life and Death of Vungzagin Valte

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

Valte underwent months of intensive medical treatment in Delhi. He was airlifted from Imphal to New Delhi on 8 February 2025 as his condition deteriorated, and was admitted to a private hospital in Gurugram, where he passed away on 21 February 2025 — nearly 134 days before his mortal remains were finally laid to rest. His body had been kept at Churachandpur District Hospital after being brought from Delhi.

He is survived by his wife, a daughter, and two sons. His remains were interred at a cemetery in Dorcas Veng village, Churachandpur, on Saturday afternoon, with family members, friends, and a large number of people from the Kuki and Zomi communities in attendance.

What the Chief Minister Said

Speaking to reporters at the residence of the late legislator, Singh stressed that dialogue is the only path forward. 'Today, I came here to pay my last respects to my friend Valte. It is a great honour for me to be able to attend his funeral,' he said.

He also expressed personal grief: 'My deepest regret is that if I had been with him that afternoon, the incident would not have taken place,' referring to the assault on 4 May 2023. Singh added that Valte's family would continue to receive his full support.

When pressed by a reporter on the specific roadmap for peace, Singh replied with a smile: 'Your smile is the way for peace' — a response that drew attention for its deflection of the substantive question.

Broader Context: Two Years of Ethnic Conflict

The ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities that erupted on 3 May 2023 has claimed hundreds of lives and displaced tens of thousands. Churachandpur, a predominantly Kuki-Zo district, has remained largely inaccessible to Meitei-dominated state leadership since the conflict began. Singh's visit — however brief — is being read as a tentative gesture toward reconciliation, even as substantive peace talks remain elusive.

Notably, this comes amid renewed pressure from the Centre, with Home Minister Shah convening a virtual meeting with the Manipur government on the same day. Whether Saturday's visit signals a broader shift in the state government's engagement with tribal-dominated districts remains to be seen.