‘Education Is More Important Than Right To Life’

Manipur is boiling in the aftermath of a TEHELKA exposé. TUSHA MITTAL questions Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh on his inaction

Photo: SHAILENDRA PANDEY

Thousands of students in Manipur are boycotting schools to protest the fake encounter exposed by TEHELKA. They say the right to life is more important than the right to education and allege that the state does not guarantee them the right to life. Do you think any of their concerns are legitimate?
No. Education is more important than right to life. But the right to life is equally important. It is our responsibility to protect people’s lives. We have already had the first round of talks with student organisations and are trying our best to resolve this.

Reports indicate that there have been more than 200 fake encounters in 2009.
That is totally wrong. We ordered a magisterial inquiry immediately after the July 23 incident. We looked at the sentiments of the people after the TEHELKA exposé and met their demands. If the findings and report of the inquiry are not satisfactory, we have no problem handing it over to the CBI. Whoever is found guilty will not be spared.

But the people have more faith in the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC). Why is your government trying to scuttle MHRC’S own inquiry?
We have already started one inquiry under the Commission of Inquiry Act. What is the problem? Is there any difference between this inquiry and that of the MHRC?

The MHRC inquiry began a month before the State’s judicial inquiry. Why did you ask the Gauhati High Court for a stay order on MHRC?
If their approach is wrong, how can we accept it? We challenged it in the High Court because our legal expert said that their approach is wrong.

A few hours after the July 23 killing, you stated that Sanjit was an armed militant. After the TEHELKA photographs were published, you admitted you had been misinformed. Could it be the same for other cases?
I don’t have any comments to make on Sanjit’s killing. Let the judicial inquiry finish and people will know who is responsible. We do not allow or accept any fake encounters.

The Manipur DGP has challenged the veracity of the TEHELKA photographs. He says they are not authentic.
Let us wait until the inquiry report is out.

Instead of being on the back foot, why can’t the government own up to its mistake and show that it is willing to make amends?
Let the experts decide whether TEHELKA’s photographs are correct. We are not experts. I’m saying that the photographs are wrong. But it needs to be confirmed. Nowadays a lot of advanced equipment is available.

The nexus between the politicians, police and the militants in Manipur is no secret. In a recent raid, militants were found sitting in a Congress MLA’s house.
I have appealed to all my colleagues. We will take legal action if there is any specific information of nexus with underground militants. We will immediately withdraw their personal security.

So you accept that such a nexus exists?
Earlier it did. We have arrested some underground militants from official bungalows.

It is not happening anymore?
We hope so.