Churachandpur/Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on July 4, Saturday visited Churachandpur to attend the funeral of BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte amid tight security and protests by sections of the Kuki community. The Chief Minister travelled by helicopter, marking the first visit by a Chief Minister of Manipur to the hill district since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023.
Speaking at the funeral held at the late MLA’s residence in Dorcas Veng, the Chief Minister expressed deep sorrow over the attack on Valte in Imphal in May 2023. He said he deeply regretted not being present when the attack took place, describing it as an unbearable tragedy that would remain etched in his memory forever.
The Chief Minister added that the incident might not have been as severe had he been there. Paying tribute, Khemchand described Valte as a calm, composed and dedicated leader, and recalled their association during the early days of the ethnic violence, and the Chief Minister also conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family.
While replying to a question from reporters, the Chief Minister said, “My message to the people of Churachandpur is that restoring peace is the only way to develop Manipur”. The visit took place amid opposition from several Kuki civil society organisations and local groups, which had called for a boycott of the Chief Minister’s entry into Churachandpur until a political solution to the ongoing crisis is reached.
In protest against the visit, Kuki residents observed a shutdown, with shops and business establishments remaining closed across parts of Churachandpur. Protesters also blocked Tiddim Road, the main route leading to Churachandpur, disrupting vehicular movement and prompting heightened security arrangements throughout the district.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by MLA Tongbram Robindro Singh, while security forces maintained a strong presence at key locations to ensure the visit passed off peacefully. Vungzagin Valte, a three-time BJP MLA from Thanlon Assembly Constituency, passed away on February 20, 2026, after prolonged treatment for the severe injuries he sustained in a mob attack in Imphal during the early phase of the ethnic violence in May 2023.
The Chief Minister’s visit was appreciated by many as a positive step towards promoting peace, reconciliation and social harmony in the state, even as differences over the ongoing crisis continue among various sections of society.
