Imphal: To take note of the ground situation in Manipur Army chief Gen Manoj Pande will visit violence-hit state on Saturday.

Army sources said that Gen Pande will be accompanied Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita who is the Eastern Army Commander of the Indian Army.

Gen Pande will be touring Manipur for two days, sources said. A senior Army official said that the top two commanders will reach Imphal from Delhi to review the ground situation in the backdrop of ongoing ethnic clashes between communities.

“Pande will meet the Governor, Chief Minister and Security Advisor to discuss the situation,” he added.

Gen Pande and Lt Gen Kalita will also meet the ground commanders, including those from other forces, and review the law and order situation.

Gen Pande is scheduled to return on Sunday, while Lt Gen Kalita is likely to stay back for Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Manipur from Monday, Army sources said.

Clashes broke out in Manipur after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

More than 70 lives have already been lost to this ethnic clash. The security forces are making all efforts to resore peace and normalcy in the state at the earliest.