From Mob Attack to Chief Minister's Escort: The Harrowing Journey of a Kuki-Zo MLA
In a poignant turn of events, BJP MLA Vunzagin Valte, who was brutally assaulted by a mob in Manipur in 2023, was airlifted from Imphal to Gurgaon on Sunday for urgent medical treatment. The evacuation was personally overseen by Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, marking a significant gesture amid the state's deep ethnic divides.
A Violent Assault That Shook Manipur
Vunzagin Valte, a 63-year-old legislator from the Kuki-Zo community, was attacked on May 4, 2023, just as ethnic violence erupted across Manipur. While returning to his official quarters after a high-level meeting chaired by then Chief Minister N Biren Singh, a mob pulled him from his vehicle and severely beat him. This incident occurred a day after widespread clashes began, and it has since been cited by Kuki-Zo groups as a stark example of their exclusion from Imphal-based governance.
The injuries sustained in the attack have had lasting effects, impairing Valte's mobility, speech, and memory. Initially, he was airlifted to Delhi for treatment before being moved to Churachandpur district, a Kuki-Zo majority area, where he has resided since.
Deteriorating Health and Urgent Evacuation
On Sunday, Valte's medical condition worsened, prompting his transfer to Gurgaon. According to a statement from the Chief Minister's Secretariat, he was rushed to Churachandpur Medical College Hospital and admitted to the ICU for stabilization. Chief Minister Khemchand monitored the situation throughout the night, dispatching an advanced life-support ambulance and a medical team from Imphal to Churachandpur around midnight.
Through teleconferencing, doctors from Imphal maintained constant contact with the medical team in Churachandpur. Recognizing the urgency, Khemchand arranged an air ambulance to evacuate Valte, who represents the Thanlon Assembly constituency. Despite these efforts, Valte's condition remained critical overnight.
Chief Minister's Personal Involvement and Gesture
At approximately 3 pm on Sunday, Valte was moved from the hospital, accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner of Churachandpur district. Two BJP legislators, Tongbram Robindro Singh and Sanasam Premchandra Singh, escorted him from Phoujakhai village to Imphal Airport. Chief Minister Khemchand received Valte at the airport at 4:20 pm, seeing him off for the flight to Gurgaon.
In a social media post, Khemchand expressed his best wishes for Valte's speedy recovery, stating, "We sincerely pray for Shri Valte's early recovery and his return to active public service of the people. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family during this time."
Broader Context: Ethnic Tensions and Conciliatory Efforts
This incident underscores the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur, which has pitted the Kuki-Zo community against the Meitei majority. The attack on Valte has been a focal point for Kuki-Zo groups, highlighting their perceived marginalization in state affairs.
Chief Minister Khemchand's involvement in Valte's evacuation is part of a broader effort to foster outreach and reconciliation across community lines. This contrasts with allegations of partisanship against his predecessor, N Biren Singh. Before assuming office, Khemchand visited a relief camp in a Kuki village in Ukhrul district in December last year, engaging with those displaced by the conflict—a first such gesture by a leader across the divide.
As Manipur grapples with its complex ethnic dynamics, the airlifting of Vunzagin Valte serves as a reminder of the human toll of the violence and the delicate steps toward healing and unity in the region.
