Manipur Chief Minister Yomnam Khimchand Singh on Saturday visited the Kuki-majority district of Churachandpur to attend the last rites of BJP MLA Phongzhagen Valti, despite a boycott call by several civil society organizations in Kuki.
Singh traveled to the area by helicopter amid protests and road closures. His visit was the first by a sitting prime minister to Churachandpur since the outbreak of ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki Zo communities in May 2023.
CM lauds BJP MLA
The Prime Minister described Valte as a “very calm person” and recalled their close association since 2017, when he became Manipur Assembly Speaker.
Commenting on the attack that took place on May 4, 2023, Singh said: “My deepest regret is that on that very afternoon, if I had been with him, this incident would not have happened.”
He added: “Today, I came here for a short visit to pay my last respects to my friend Bo Falti. To be able to attend is a great honor for me. Falti’s family is like my family. His friends and close ones are my friends as well. I will always offer any support to all of them when or if needed.”
Valti’s funeral took place after a delay of months
Valte, 61, a BJP legislator from Thanlon constituency and a former minister from the Zomi community in the previous government headed by N Biren Singh, was seriously injured in a mob attack in Imphal on May 4, 2023. He remained in a wheelchair before he died at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on February 21 this year after nearly two years of treatment. His family and Kuki Zo organizations had refused to hold his funeral for months, demanding the arrest of those responsible for the attack.
“The family finally decided to cremate him because the MLA’s wife was ill and she wanted to bury her husband. All these months, the body was kept in the mortuary because the police had not arrested anyone for his murder,” said a family member, who requested anonymity.
Valte was among the 10 lawmakers who demanded “separate administration” for the hill areas after the outbreak of ethnic conflict. He has also served as an advisor to former Prime Minister N Biren Singh.
Kuki’s organizations opposed the Prime Minister’s visit
Ahead of the visit, Kuki’s apex civic body, Kuki Inpi Manipur, had warned the Prime Minister against traveling to Churachandpur, saying the situation in the region remained “very sensitive and volatile”.
In a separate joint statement issued on July 3, six Kuki civil society organizations (KCSOs) said: “CSOs in Churachandpur would like to make it clear that until and unless there is a solution to the ongoing Kuki-Zo-Miti conflict, we will not allow any individual, official or group of Miti in our area, be it the Prime Minister.”
The organizations also warned that “any untoward incident arising from his visit will be at his sole responsibility.”
CM reiterates call for dialogue
Later, while interacting with the media, the Prime Minister said that dialogue is the only way forward to restore peace in Manipur and stressed that lasting peace is essential for the overall development of the state.
Protesters stopped the school bus in Kangbukpi
On Saturday, a group of protesters stopped a school bus in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, officials said.
According to officials, the incident occurred at around 7.30 am near the ex-servicemen’s colony when Kuki mass march protesters stopped a bus carrying 30 students towards Kendriya Vidyalaya, Limakhong, Kangpokpi district.
The Kuki family is demanding freedom of movement on NH-2 and justice for six Naga civilians who were allegedly killed by Kuki militants after they were kidnapped on May 13.
