Government extends ban imposed on National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang for 5 more years

New Delhi: The Union government on Monday announced extension of 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 from September 28 for its involvement in activities that are "prejudicial" to the sovereignty and integrity of India.

Government announces extension of ban imposed on National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang for 5 more years

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued the notification saying that the NSCN (K) has 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 ULFA (I), People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and People's Liberation Army (PLA).

It has also indulged 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.

In the past five years, the MHA said, several activities have been noted in which NSCN (K) cadres were involved between 28 September, 2020 and April 30 this year. Seventy-one cases were registered against its cadres with 56 chargesheets filed and 35 cadres prosecuted, it said adding involvement of its cadres in 51 other criminal activities was also reported.

It said 85 cadres of its cadres were arrested while and 69 surrendered while 69 arms, 52 magazines, 931 live rounds, 10 grenades, 150 detonators, three explosives gel tubes, 200 grams trinitrotoluene one-and-a-half kg improvised explosive device (IED) and 800 grams of other explosives were recovered.

The state governments of Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh have also recommended the declaration of NSCN (K) as an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

"...the central government is of the opinion that the aforesaid activities of NSCN (K) are detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India and if these are not immediately curbed and controlled, the NSCN (K) may further regroup and rearm itself, expand its cadres, procure sophisticated weapons, cause loss of lives of civilians and security forces and thereby accelerate its anti-national activities. And whereas, the central government is of the opinion that for the reasons aforesaid, the NSCN (K) together with its factions, wings and front organisations, is an unlawful association," the notification said.

It said the MHA is of the further opinion that circumstances exist which render it necessary to declare the NSCN (K) along with all its factions, wings and front organisations to be an unlawful association with effect from September 28.

"Accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 3 of the said Act, hereby directs that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the said Act, have immediate effect from the 28th September, 2025 for a period of five years," the notification said.