NSCN-K ban order no mention of killing army soldiers

New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry, which banned the Naga insurgent group NSCN-K, responsible for the killing of 18 Indian army soldiers, has made no mention of the outfit's involvement in the deadly attack on June 4 in Manipur.

According to the government gazette notification issued after the Cabinet decision on September 16 to declare the NSCN-K as an unlawful outfit, it mentioned NSCN-K's involvement in four attacks - including three attacks on Assam Rifles in February, March and May, but makes no mention of the audacious attack on the Army in June which prompted the government to launch a counter-strike inside Myanmar and killing nearly two dozen militants.

A Home Ministry official said this is so because the Cabinet note for banning NSCN-K was initiated by the Home Ministry even before the June strike on the Army since NSCN-K had unilaterally abrogated the ceasefire with India in March. It was so far believed that the step to ban NSCN-K was only initiated after the attack on Army in June but it now transpires that the Home Ministry had plans to ban the outfit since March.

The September 28 gazette notification mentions that the Centre is of the opinion that "if there is no immediate curb and control of unlawful activities of NSCN-K, the outfit may make fresh recruitments, indulge in violent, terrorist and secessionist activities, collect funds and endanger lives of innocent citizens and security forces personnel."

It adds that the activities of NSCN-K are detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India.