Outrage is building in Manipur’s hills as the influential Zomi Council slams the sluggish CBI investigation into the fatal attack on BJP MLA Vungzagin Valté, demanding immediate acceleration from the Centre. The Churachandpur body’s memorandum to Amit Shah paints a picture of systemic neglect.
Authored by president Wumsuan Naulak and general secretary Paunehlal, the plea notes zero progress post-Valté’s February 21 demise in Gurugram—a stark reality three years after the May 2023 Imphal assault during ethnic turmoil.
Elected from Thanlon, Valté championed Zomi interests, uniting Kuki, Mizo, Hmar, and kin tribes. Shot en route from a CM Biren Singh conclave, he endured paralysis until airlifted for advanced care, where tragedy struck.
The document accuses authorities of political bias, sidelining hill tribes and stalling prosecutions. It advocates for empowered governance models to secure tribal futures amid Manipur’s tensions.
Tributes flowed: Governor Bhalla honored the site Tuesday; CM Singh bid farewell in Delhi. Yet, these pale against the council’s core ask—swift justice to heal wounds.
Valté’s driver’s on-spot death amplified the horror. As probes languish, tribal voices grow louder, signaling potential flashpoints if Delhi doesn’t intervene promptly in this saga of violence and vindication.