Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi carried out a day-long visit to Manipur on Wednesday (July 30) to assess the current security situation and the readiness of Army units and the Assam Rifles stationed in the state. The visit holds importance as the region continues to experience ethnic unrest since May 2023, despite efforts by both central and state authorities.
During the visit, General Dwivedi received a briefing on ground conditions and ongoing measures to restore peace, according to Defence spokesperson, Lt Col Mahendra Rawat. “He reviewed the operational preparedness of the troops and praised their professionalism, resilience and dedication in testing circumstances,” Rawat said.
The Army chief also met with Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to discuss security and development in the state. The meeting reflected joint efforts between civil authorities and the military to encourage stability and progress.
A few days back, Governor Bhalla stated that “peace and normalcy” were returning, and commended the actions taken by the government, security forces and civil society.
President’s Rule in Manipur
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13, following the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. In view of the continued unrest, the President’s Rule has now been extended for another 6 months starting August 13, as coordinated security operations intensify against insurgent groups.
Earlier this month, senior military officials including Lt Gen Ram Chander Tiwari from Eastern Command, Lt Gen Abhijit S. Pendharkar of Spear Corps, and Major Gen Ravroop Singh of Assam Rifles (South), met the Governor at Raj Bhavan.
They updated him on the current situation in Manipur and provided an overview of the broader security landscape across the northeast region.
