Churachandpur (Manipur), March 6 The Central Village Defence Force (CVDF) organized a road march in Churachandpur town, Manipur, on Friday, protesting the death of BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte and other members of the Zo community who were victims of the ethnic violence in the state.
Valte, who had sustained injuries in a mob attack during the early stages of ethnic violence in 2023, died on February 20 in a private hospital in Gurugram.
Hundreds of CVDF volunteers and members of the public participated in the march to demand justice for those killed in the violence and who were displaced, according to a CVDF leader.
The northeastern state has been experiencing ethnic violence since May 3, 2023, following a tribal solidarity march in the hill districts, protesting against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Since then, at least 260 people, including members of both the Kuki and Meitei communities as well as security personnel, have been killed in the violence, while thousands have been left homeless.