NEW DELHI, 22 Sep: The Centre on Monday decided to extend the ban imposed on the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang [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 28 September for a period of five years, a notification of the Ministry of Home Affairs said.
The central government is of the opinion that the NSCN (K) has declared its aim to create a sovereign Nagaland, ncorporating the Naga inhabited areas of the Indo-Myanmar region by secession from the Indian union and aligned itself with other unlawful associations like the ULFA (I), PREPAK and PLA, it said.
The group is also indulging in kidnapping for ransom and extortion of money from businessmen, government officials and other civilians, possessesillegal arms and ammunition and obtains assistance from anti-India forces in other countries to procure arms and other assistance.
“Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), (hereinafter referred to as the said Act), the central government hereby declares the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) [NSCN (K)] along with all its factions, wings and front organisations as an unlawful association,” the notification said.
The NSCN (K) has continued to be a banned organisation for decades now and it is being extended every five years. Its leader, SS Khaplang, a Myanmarese Naga, died in 2017 after leading the group for decades. The outfit is now run by two of his deputies.
The NSCN (K)’s rival faction, the NSCN (IM), is currently having peace negotiations with the central government to find a lasting peaceful solution to the seven-decade-old insurgency problem of Nagaland. (PTI)
