JOIN USThe government on Tuesday declared the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), a militant group operating in West Bengal and Assam for a sovereign state, a banned outfit.
In a Gazette notification, the Home Ministry said the government proposes to add the KLO and all its formation and front organisations as a terrorist organisation as empowered by Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The KLO, which had come into existence in 1993, had been consolidating its position in 14 districts of Assam and six districts of West Bengal, the notification said. It also had accumulated weapons and cadres to achieve the objective of a separate “sovereign Kamatapur state”.
The outfit resorts to terrorism by killing of innocent civilians and security forces and engaging in other violent activities including looting, kidnapping, landmine and bomb blasts, the notification said.
The government “believes” that the KLO is involved in terrorism, it added. Security officials said there were eports that Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence is assisting terrorist groups, including the KLO, to launch attacks and trigger unrest along the Siliguri Corridor of West Bengal. “The KLO is alleged to be the armed underground wing of Kamtapur People’s Party (KPP). Available evidence suggests that it maintains close linkages with the ULFA.