Indian Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has said the situation in Manipur will take some time to settle down, reports NDTV.

"We've done an excellent job and saved a large number of lives. The challenges in Manipur have not disappeared and it will take some time but hopefully, they should settle down," he said.

General Chauhan also said the violence in Manipur is a result of a clash between two ethnicities and has nothing to do with counter-insurgency, said the report.

Also read: 54 people killed in street clashes in India’s Manipur

"The situation in Manipur has 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 government," he said.

Since the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, the northeastern state has been plagued by ethnic conflict for over a month. As tensions over land and political representation have erupted, the conflict has spawned a series of lesser disturbances, it added.

Meanwhile, Indian Union Home Minister Amit Shah met the Governor of Manipur Anusuiya Uikey and Chief Minister N Biren Singh's council of ministers on Monday after he touched down in the state for a four-day visit.

Shah met with top army officials, civil society organizations, and influential community leaders to finalise a strategy to curb ethnic violence in the state.

Clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3 following a solidarity march by tribal groups to protest against the Meiteis, who comprise 64 percent of the state's population, and their demand for a Scheduled Tribe status, the report also mentioned.

Over 80 people have died, properties worth crores torched, and thousands forced to evacuate due to the violence that has gripped the state since the march.