Okram Ibobi Singh | 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?

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