Centre forms tribunal to adjudicate ban on NSCN (K)

The Centre has set up a tribunal under a High Court judge to adjudicate whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) with all its factions and wings as an unlawful association.

A gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday stated that “the Central Government hereby constitutes The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal consisting of Justice Nelson Sailo, a judge of the Gauhati High Court, for the purpose of adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring the NSCN (K) with all its factions, wings and front organisations as unlawful association”.

The development comes less than a month after the Centre on September 22 extended the ban imposed on the NSCN (K) along with all its factions, wings and front organisations for five more years due to its involvement in activities prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India.

“The ban will be effective from September 28 for a period of five years,” a notification issued by the MHA on September 22 had said.

Elaborating upon the reason behind extending the ban on the NSCN (K), the Centre had stated that the organisation had declared its aim to create a sovereign Nagaland incorporating the Naga-inhabited areas of the Indo-Myanmar region by secession from the Indian Union and aligned itself with other unlawful associations like the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent), the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak and the People’s Liberation Army.

The group was also involved in kidnapping for ransom and extortion of money from businessmen, government officials and other civilians, possessed illegal arms and ammunition and obtained assistance from anti-India forces in other countries to procure arms and other assistance, the MHA had stated last month while extending the ban on the outfit.