Imphal: Vungzagin Valte, a prominent Kuki-Zo legislator and former Manipur Minister, died on Friday after battling injuries sustained during the 2023 ethnic violence. He was 61.
Valte, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from the Thanlon Assembly constituency in Pherzawl district, had been under prolonged medical care since he was assaulted by a mob in Imphal on May 4, 2023. The attack occurred when he was returning from a meeting with the then Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, on the second day of the violence that engulfed the state.
He had been in and out of critical care over the past three years. Earlier this month, Valte was airlifted from Imphal to the National Capital Region (NCR) for advanced treatment. He passed away at Medanta – The Medicity Hospital in Gurugram, Haryana, where he had been admitted since February 8.
Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen condoled his death. In a post on X, she said: “It is with deep sorrow that we mourn the demise of Pu Vungzagin Valte, Hon’ble MLA, Thanlon AC. He was a dedicated leader who worked tirelessly for the welfare and progress of his people.”
Valte, a three-time legislator, was widely regarded as a key voice of the Kuki-Zo community in Manipur’s political landscape. Following the outbreak of ethnic violence in 2023, he was among the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs who had been demanding a “separate administration”, seeking the creation of a Union Territory carved out of Manipur.
Colleagues and party leaders remembered Valte as a committed public representative who remained steadfast in advocating for the welfare and dignity of his constituents despite grave personal adversity.
The ethnic conflict that erupted in May 2023 led to widespread displacement and claimed over 260 lives, leaving deep social and political fault lines in the state.