General Manoj Pande Manipur Visit: Army Chief General Manoj Pande will visit the state on Saturday (May 27) to review the situation in violence-hit Manipur. Army Chief’s Eastern Command Commander Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita will also accompany the Army Chief during his two-day visit.
According to a senior army officer, General Pandey and Lieutenant General Kalita will reach Imphal from Delhi to review the ground situation in the backdrop of ongoing ethnic violence between communities. They said, "Pandey will meet Governor Anusuiya Uikey, Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Security Advisor Kuldeep Singh to discuss the situation."
Violence spread to Manipur on May 3
It may be noted that violent clashes had taken place after the ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized in the hill districts on May 3 in protest against the demand of the Meitei community for granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status in Manipur. 53 percent of Manipur’s population belongs to the Meitei community and they mostly live in the Imphal Valley. Tribals, Nagas and Kukis form 40 percent of the population and live in the hill districts.
The ethnic conflict in Manipur claimed over 70 lives and nearly 10,000 military and para-military personnel had to be deployed to restore normalcy in the northeastern state.
Army Chief will take stock of the ground situation
Officials said that the Army and Assam Rifles have deployed 135 columns to calm the situation by occupying sensitive and border areas. There are about 100 jawans in a column. The Army said in a statement, “The Chief of Army Staff will visit various locations where he will interact with local formation commanders and troops and take stock of the ground situation.”
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