Guwahati: The Union Government on Thursday banned Meghalaya-based insurgent group Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), which claims to represent Khasi and Jaintia tribes, for five years for its involvement in violent activities that threaten the sovereignty and integrity of India.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in a notification, said the Union government is of the view that the insurgent group has declared its objective for the secession of areas in Meghalaya primarily inhabited by the Khasi and Jaintia tribes.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that the activities of the HNLC are detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India, and if these are not immediately curbed and controlled, the HNLC may regroup and rearm itself, expand its cadres, procure sophisticated weapons, cause loss of lives of civilians and security forces and properties and thereby accelerate its anti-national activities.
“The HNLC, along with all its factions, wings, and front organizations of Meghalaya, has been involved in such activities that are prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India,” the notification read.
The outfit is also involved in intimidation and bullying of the civilian population for extortion of funds for their organization, besides maintaining links with other Northeast-based extremist outfits to carry out extortion and intimidation, the notification stated.
It said the HNLC has also been named in 48 cases, including those of explosions or planting of explosives in Meghalaya from November 2019 to June 2024. Seventy-three of its cadres were arrested while three had surrendered in the past five years.
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“Considering all these facts, the Ministry of Home Affairs decided to declare HNLC outlawed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967) for five years,” it added.
