Government sets up judicial tribunal to rule on ban on Meghalaya rebel group – ThePrint –

New Delhi, Dec 8 (PTI) The Union Home Ministry has set up a judicial tribunal to decide on the ban imposed on the Meghalaya-based insurgent group Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).

On November 14, the central government declared the HNLC a banned organization for five years for its involvement in violent incidents and activities prejudicial to India’s sovereignty and integrity.

In a notification issued on Friday, the Ministry of Home Affairs said that in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 5 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the Central Government constituted a tribunal comprising Justice Sumitra Saikia, Judge of the Gauhati High Court to decide whether there is sufficient cause to declare the HNLC with all its factions, wings and front organizations as illegal association.

Announcing the ban, the home ministry said the HNLC had a stated objective of segregating areas in Meghalaya, predominantly inhabited by the Khasi and Jaintia tribes, and continued to intimidate and harass civilians to extort funds for their organisation.

The group also maintains ties with other insurgent groups in the northeastern region for extortion and intimidation and has been implicated in 48 criminal cases, including several blasts or IEDs in Meghalaya, between November 2019 and June 2024. said

During this period, security forces also arrested 73 members of the group.

“The HNLC along with all its factions, wings and front organizations of Meghalaya are involved in such activities which are detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India,” it said.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has said that it believes that these activities of the HNLC are prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India.

And if not immediately curbed and controlled, the HNLC may regroup and rearm, expand its cadres, acquire sophisticated weapons, cause loss of civilian lives, security forces and property and thus accelerate its anti-national activities, the ministry said.

The tribunal assesses whether the ban is justified on the grounds provided, and the organization concerned may present its case to it. PTI ACB RT RT

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