The government bans the Meghalaya-based HNLC insurgent group

The Meghalaya-based insurgent group Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) was on Thursday banned by the government for five years for its involvement in violent incidents and activities prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India.

In a statement, the Union Home Ministry said that the central government believes that the HNLC has declared an aim to separate areas in Meghalaya, mainly inhabited by the Khasi and Jaintia tribes, and continues to intimidate and harass the civilian population to extort funds. for their organization.

The group is also said to have links with other insurgent groups in the North-East region to carry out extortion and intimidation and condone 48 criminal cases, including blast or planting of explosives in Meghalaya, between November 2019 and June 2024. During this period, 73 employees of the detachment were also arrested by security forces.

“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 the activities of the HNLC are prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India.

If not immediately stopped and brought under control, the HNLC may regroup and re-arm, expand its cadres, procure modern weapons, cause loss of civilian lives, security forces and property and thus accelerate its anti-national activities, the ministry said.

He also believes that, for the above reasons, it is necessary to declare the HNLC along with its factions, wings and front organizations as an illegal association.

Considering all these facts, the Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to outlaw HNLC under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967) with immediate effect for a period of five years, it said.