Protesters march demanding justice for victims of violence in Manipur

The Central Village Defense Force (CVDF) on Friday, March 6, 2026, organized a road march in Manipur’s Churachandpur town to protest the death of BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte and other Zo community people, who were victims of ethnic violence in the state.

Valte, who was injured in a gang attack during the first episode of ethnic violence in 2023, died on February 20 at a private hospital in Gurugram.

A CVDF leader claimed that hundreds of CVDF volunteers and members of the public participated in the march to demand justice for those killed and displaced in the violence.

The northeastern state has been witnessing ethnic violence since May 3, 2023, following a tribal solidarity march in the hill areas to protest against the demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status by the majority of the Meitei community.

Since then, at least 260 people, including members of the Kuki and Meitei communities as well as security personnel, have been killed in violence and thousands have been left homeless.