Manipur violence: BJP MLA attacked by mob in Imphal, critical

By Indrajit Kundu: Vungzagin Valte, a BJP MLA, was attacked by a mob in Imphal on Thursday while he was returning from the state secretariat after a meeting with Chief Minister N Biren Singh. This comes amid a deteriorating law and order situation in Manipur after violence broke out across the state between tribals and the majority Meitei community.

Valte, a three-time MLA from Thanlon in Pherzawl district, was on his way to his official residence in Imphal when the attack took place.

The MLA and his driver were attacked by the irate mob while his PSO managed to escape. The lawmaker is currently in critical condition and undergoing treatment at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal.

Valte is from the Kuki community. He was the Tribal Affairs & Hills minister of Manipur in the last BJP government.

ALSO READ | How Manipur violence unfolded: A timeline of events

ALL WE KNOW ABOUT MANIPUR VIOLENCE

• On Wednesday, a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) in the ten hill districts of the state to protest the demand of non-tribal Meiteis, who account for 53 per cent of the state’s population, for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
• During the march in Torbung area of Churachandpur district, an armed mob allegedly attacked people of the Meitei community, leading to retaliatory attacks in the valley districts, which escalated the violence throughout the state.
• Many shops and houses were vandalised, and gutted in arson that lasted for more than three hours in Torbung.
• Urging people to maintain peace, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said, “Precious lives have been lost, besides damage of properties, which is very unfortunate.” The CM said the violence was the result of “misunderstanding” in society.
• Fifty-five columns of the Army and Assam Rifles have been deployed to contain widespread rioting that broke out across Manipur.
• The Manipur Governor on Thursday gave his approval to shoot at sight order in “extreme cases” to contain spiralling violence in the state.
• After mobile internet services, broadband services have now been suspended in Manipur in a bid to contain the violence and spread of rumour.