Guwahati: Chief of defence staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Tuesday said the situation in Manipur has nothing to do with counter-insurgency or insurgency kind of thing.
Chauhan said it was purely a law-and-order kind of situation.
“It’s primarily a clash between two ethnicities. We are helping the state (Manipur) government,” said Chauhan.
The chief of defence staff added, “Right now we are in a different situation altogether. We are trying to separate the communities involved in the ethnic clashes.”
He lauded the efforts of Assam Rifles, Indian Army and other central armed forces that have been deployed in Manipur to restore peace.
“We have done an excellent job. The Assam Rifles and other forces may have saved many lives,” said CDS General Anil Chauhan.
Nearly 100 people lost their lives and thousands of people were displaced following the clashes and subsequent violence in the state. The ethnic clash between two communities started in Manipur since May 3.
CDS Chauhan further said: “It will take some time and hopefully they will settle down and hopefully the state government will be able to do their job.”
The security forces, which have been deployed in Manipur, have also launched combing operations to neutralised armed militants, suspected to be involved in the violence.