Manipur Violence: BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte Critical After Being Attacked by Mob

Vungzagin Valte, MLA from Thanlon, is likely to be airlifted to Delhi for treatment.

The incident reportedly occurred on the RIMS road when a mob attacked the car carrying the lawmaker.

(Photo: Twitter/Vungzagin Valte)

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Vungzagin Valte from Thanlon constituency in the Pherzawl district of Manipur was attacked by an angry mob while returning from the chief minister's secretariat on Thursday, 4 May, afternoon, according to a report by news outlet East Mojo.

The incident reportedly occurred on the RIMS road when a mob attacked the car carrying the lawmaker.

He was on his way to his official quarters after attending a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister N Biren Singh on the ongoing law and order situation in Manipur.

A Naga legislator from the hills, who also attended the meeting, told news outlet Scroll that a mob accosted Valte and vandalised his vehicle. He said Valte is likely to be airlifted to Delhi for treatment.

Valte is a leader of the Kuki tribal community.

Several incidents of violence have broken out in Manipur since Wednesday, 3 May, when hill tribals took out a march to oppose the inclusion of Meiteis in the list of Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities. The Army and paramilitary forces have been deployed in the state.

The state government has issued “shoot-at-sight” orders “in extreme cases” to control the violence in Manipur.

Earlier in the day, Rajya Sabha MP and boxer Mary Kom had also appealed for calm.

Speaking to news agency ANI, she said: "The situation in Manipur makes me unhappy... earlier I could not even imagine this much violence. Since last night it has become more frightening."

(With inputs from ANI, East Mojo, and Scroll.)