Vungzagin Valte

Vungzagin Valte (3 April 1964 – 20 February 2026) was an Indian politician from Manipur. He was a three-time member of the Manipur Legislative Assembly from the Thanlon constituency in Pherzawl district, first as a member of the Indian National Congress and later, from 2017, as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.[1][2] He was a cabinet minister during 2017–2022, holding the portfolios of Transport, Tribal Affairs & Hills, and General Administration. After 2022, he had the role of chief advisor to the chief minister N. Biren Singh on tribal affairs.[3]

After the eruption of the 2023–2025 Manipur violence, Valte was brutally attacked by a Meitei mob in Imphal while returning from a meeting with the chief minister. He was seriously crippled and partly paralysed, and spent months hospitalised.[3][4] After partial recovery and return to Churachandpur, he continued to suffer from ailments related to the attack, and finally succumbed to them in February 21, 2026.[5] No one was held accountable for his killing.[6]

Early life

Valte was born on 3 April 1964.[7] He belonged to the Paite tribe, and adopted the Zomi identity in preference to the Kuki-Zo identity.[8]

Career

Valte won from Thanlon Assembly constituency representing the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2022 Manipur Legislative Assembly election. He polled 4,863 votes and defeated his nearest rival, Khantang Taosing of the National People's Party, by 751 votes.

Attack and death

Valte was placed in critical condition after an attack during the July 2023 Manipur Violence.[9][4] After attending a meeting called by chief minister N. Biren Singh, he was on his way home when he was brutally attacked on 4 May 2024 in Imphal.

On 18 April 2025, after nearly two years of treatment in Delhi, Valte returned home to Churachandpur, accompanied by his wife. Both were in wheelchairs and received a warm welcome from constituents and locals.[10] That same day, in an interview with Ratnadip Choudhury of NDTV, Valte emphasized that the path to peace in Manipur lies in granting autonomy to the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar people through Union Territory status. He expressed his stance on negotiations, stating, 'I will not sit with Meiteis at the negotiation table.' Valte also thanked the Ministry of Home Affairs for establishing buffer zones between Kuki-Zo- and Meitei-dominated areas.[11]

Valte died on 21 February 2026.[12]

References

  1. ^ "2 former Manipur Congress MLAs switch to BJP". The Times of India. 26 January 2017. ISSN 0971-8257.
  2. ^ "Thanlon (Manipur) Elections and Results 2017, Candidate list, Winner and Runner-up". Elections in India.
  3. ^ a b Vijaita Singh, Crippled in mob attack, Kuki BJP MLA from Manipur admitted to Delhi hospital, The Hindu, 7 June 2023.
  4. ^ a b Gupta, Moushumi Das (26 July 2023). "Manipur BJP MLA attacked by mob lies paralysed, family grapples with bills. 'No help from anyone'". ThePrint.
  5. ^ Vijaita Singh, Kuki-Zo MLA, attacked by mob in 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur, dies in Gurugram hospital, The Hindu, 21 February 2026.
  6. ^ Vishal Arora, ‘No One’ Killed This Manipur MLA, and That Defines the State’s Accountability Crisis, Newsreel Asia, 22 February 2026.
  7. ^ Vungzagin Valte, Manipur Legislative Assembly, retrieved 20 February 2026.
  8. ^ Debanish Achom, Ratnadip Choudhury, "Kuki-Zo" Wrong Term To Describe Us, Say 3 Manipur MLAs From Different Tribes, NDTV News, 23 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Uneasy calm in violence-hit Manipur amid heavy presence of security forces". the pioneer. 5 May 2023.
  10. ^ Debanish Achom, Ratnadip Choudhury, "Only Path To Peace In Manipur...": Kuki BJP MLA, Wounded In May 2023, Returns Home, NDTV News, 18 April 2025.
  11. ^ Ratnadip Choudhury, Manipur Violence | NDTV Exclusive: BJP MLA Assaulted In Manipur Returns Home After 2 Yearse, NDTV News, 18 April 2025.
  12. ^ "Manipur BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte Passes Away". Northeast Live. 20 February 2026.
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vunzjagin_Valte