‘Are Manipuris not Indians?’

Babloo Loitongbam of Human Rights Alert, Manipur, says the army cannot be above the law

What has been the response of people outside the North East to Sharmila Chanu's campaign? Fantastic much better than we expected. Even the national media has got interested and there are many programmes in news channels on AFSPA, Sharmila and Manipur. We'll now take our campaign to other cities in a more intensive manner.

How do you view the army's concerns over repeal of AFSPA? The army can very well operate under a more humane law, as suggested by the Justice Jeevan Reddy committee , and be accountable for all its actions . It cannot be above the law of the land. AFSPA has been withdrawn from seven assembly constituencies in Imphal Valley, but life goes on there and it hasn't become hotbeds of militants.

Should the army be deployed in internal security duties? The prime minister says that Maoists are the biggest internal security threat, but the army hasn't be deployed to fight them. So how come the army is deployed in Manipur? Does India consider Manipuris its own citizens or not?