Family of Manipur BJP MLA Demands Justice Before Burial
Demands for Justice and Separate District
The relatives of Vungzagin Valte, a Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Manipur who passed away on February 20, have declared that they will not proceed with his burial until their demands are addressed by the Union government. Valte succumbed to injuries sustained during a mob attack nearly three years prior.
The family is advocating for the establishment of a separate district for the Zomi tribe, which Valte belonged to, along with a thorough investigation into his death by the National Investigation Agency.
On May 4, 2023, Valte was attacked by a mob allegedly consisting of individuals from the Meitei community while he was returning from a meeting with the then Chief Minister N Biren Singh, just a day after ethnic violence erupted in the region.
After receiving medical care for almost three years, Valte passed away at a hospital in Gurugram.
His body was transported from Delhi to Aizawl at the family's request and subsequently taken to his residence in Churachandpur district, where Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh paid their respects.
Governor of Manipur today visited Churachandpur District to pay tribute to late MLA Vungzagin Valte, laying a wreath and a shawl in solemn remembrance.
— LOK BHAVAN MANIPUR (@LokBhavManipur) February 24, 2026
The Governor met the bereaved family and conveyed his heartfelt condolences, praying for the eternal peace of the departed soul… pic.twitter.com/HEsjKcIf3V
Valte’s son, Joseph, stated that the family presented a list of demands to the Governor, emphasizing that the burial would not occur until these were fulfilled.
On Wednesday, Valte's body was moved to the morgue of Churachandpur Medical College, following a request for a post-mortem from local police. An official indicated that the family was still deliberating on whether to proceed with the post-mortem, expressing concerns about preserving evidence for the investigation.
The Zomi Council, a significant community organization, is urging the government to expedite discussions regarding a separate administrative setup for the Zomi tribe. Mary Jones Vung, the council's Information and Publicity Secretary, mentioned that they would consult with various organizations before determining the next steps regarding the burial.
During his treatment, Valte had reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a letter dated September 13, 2025, alleging that he was attacked by a group he referred to as 'Meitei militia [Arambai Tenggol]', which left him severely injured and paralyzed. He expressed frustration over the lack of a special inquiry into the incident.