Centre bans Meghalaya-based insurgent group HNLC

In a notification, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said, "The HNLC along with all its factions, wings and frontal organisations has been openly declaring as its objective the secession of the state of Meghalaya (largely inhabited by Khasi and Jaintia tribals) from the Indian Union.”

The Central government said in the notification issued on Nov 16 that, the HNLC has openly declared objective for secession of areas in the state of Meghalaya, largely inhabited by Khasi and Jaintia tribals from India, continued intimidation and bullying of the civilian population for extortion of funds for their organisation, maintained links with other insurgent groups of the North Eastern region for carrying out acts of extortion and intimidation, maintained camps in Bangladesh for the purpose of sanctuary and training of their cadres.

In the notification, the MHA said, "The HNLC has involved in four incidents of violence involving killing of one civilian, during the period from January 1, 2015 to July 31, 2019.”

“During the period, 16 cadres have been arrested, four weapons recovered, 14 of its cadres surrendered, four persons have been kidnapped,” the MHA said.

The Central government is also of the opinion that the HNLC together with its factions, wings or front organisations, is an ‘unlawful association’.

“The HNLC are detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India, and if these are not immediately curbed and controlled, the HNLC would regroup and rearm itself, expand its cadres, procure sophisticated weapons, cause loss of lives of civilians and security forces, and accelerate its anti-national activities,” the MHA said in the notification.

“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 Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), along with all itsfactions, wings and front organisations as unlawful association,” the MHA notification said.

“The Central Government, having regard to the activities of HNLC, to meet the violent activities committed by HNLC in the past, is of the opinion that circumstances exist which render it necessary to declare the HNLC, along with all its factions, wings and front organisations to be an unlawful association with immediate effect and 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 effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette,” the MHA notification said.

It is to mentioned that, earlier, the centre had banned the insurgent group in 2012 also.

(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)