India, July 5 -- Manipur chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Saturday visited the Kuki-majority Churachandpur district to attend the last rites of BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte, despite a boycott call by several Kuki civil society organisations.

Singh travelled to the district by helicopter amid protests and road blockades. His visit marked the first by a sitting chief minister to Churachandpur since ethnic violence erupted between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in May 2023.

The CM described Valte as "a very calm person" and recalled their close association since 2017, when he became Speaker of the Manipur Assembly.

Reflecting on the attack on May 4, 2023, Singh said, "My deepest regret is that on that particular afternoon, if I wer...