Manipur: Challenges in the state will take some time to settle down, says Chief of Defence Staff

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Tuesday (May 30) said the challenges in Manipur have not disappeared, but expressed hope that things would settle down in some time while noting that the situation in the north-eastern state now is not related to insurgency.

The death toll from clashes since ethnic rioting began on May 3 in Manipur has gone up to 80, according to officials.

Chauhan was in Pune on Tuesday (May 30) to review the passing-out parade of the 144th course of the National Defence Academy (NDA).

Also read: Union Home Minister Amit Shah to visit Manipur on May 29: Rai

Asked about the situation in Manipur, he told reporters, “The Army, Assam Rifles were deployed in Manipur before 2020. Since the challenges of the northern borders were far more, we were able to withdraw the Army. Since the insurgency situation had normalised, we were able to do that.”

“The situation now in Manipur is not related to insurgency. It is a clash between two ethnicities and a situation of law and order,” he said.

“We are helping the state government with the problem,” the CDS said.

“I would like to say that the armed forces and Assam Rifles have done an excellent job there and may have saved a large number of lives. Though the challenges in Manipur have not disappeared, it will take some time. Hopefully, this will settle down and the government there will be able to do the job with the help of CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces), etc.” he said.

#WATCH | The situation in #Manipur is nothing to do with counter-insurgency and is primarily a clash between two ethnicities. It's a law and order kind of situation and we are helping the state govt. We've done an excellent job and saved a large number of lives. The challenges in… pic.twitter.com/O0zlfS5yty

— ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2023

In his address to the cadets, Chauhan spoke about the deployment of China’s PLA (People’s Liberation Army) along the northern borders.

Also read: Manipur CM, 4 ministers, BJP state chief meet Amit Shah, Nadda in Delhi

“We see the war in Europe, the deployment of China’s PLA along the northern borders, and geo-political crises in neighbouring countries. These crises present a challenge to India, but the armed forces are firm to maintain the legitimacy of India’s claims and peace in the region,” he said.

(With inputs from agencies)