The Zomi Council, the apex body of the Zomi Tribe in Churachandpur, has stated that it will determine the course of action regarding the burial of BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte, even as tribal organisations reiterated their demand for a separate administration following his demise.
In a statement, the Zomi Council indicated that a decision on the final rites would be taken after consultations with frontal civil bodies. A functionary of a Zomi civil organisation said that while the post-mortem examination may be completed, immediate burial is unlikely in view of recent developments. He maintained that the demand for separate administration remains central and would be discussed before proceeding further.
Five days after the Thanlon MLA passed away at a private hospital in Gurugram, his mortal remains were shifted to the Churachandpur district morgue on Wednesday afternoon, where an autopsy is to be conducted, officials said.
Valte’s body was airlifted to Mizoram on Sunday and brought to his residence in Churachandpur on Tuesday. Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla paid his respects by laying a wreath and draping the mortal remains with a traditional shawl at the legislator’s residence.
On Wednesday night, several tribal bodies organised a candlelight vigil in Churachandpur district to press for the creation of a Union Territory with legislature following the MLA’s death. Demonstrators also raised slogans demanding justice and called for an investigation by either the Central Bureau of Investigation or the National Investigation Agency.
The developments indicate that discussions surrounding the burial of the late legislator are intertwined with broader political demands raised by tribal organisations in the aftermath of his death.