Assam: Union Home Ministry Issues Show-Cause Notice To ULFA Under UAPA

GUWAHATI: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sent a notice to the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and its groups, asking them to explain why they should not be labeled an unlawful organization for five years, effective from November 27, 2024, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.

ULFA has been given 30 days upon receiving of the notice to submit a written response to the MHA. The reply must be filed before the "Register of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the Matter of the United Liberation Front of Asom."

The organization has also been asked to appear before the tribunal on March 4, 2025, at 3:00 PM in Court Room No. 2 of the Gauhati High Court (Old Block). ULFA can be represented by a trusted person or lawyer.

ULFA, which has existed for nearly 40 years, officially disbanded in January 2024 following a settlement with the Government of India on December 29, 2023.

Meanwhile, earlier last month, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had constituted an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal to adjudicate whether there was sufficient cause to declare that the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-I) should continue to be classified as an unlawful association. Justice Michael Zothankhuma had been appointed as the chairman of the tribunal under Section 5(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

The MHA had constituted the tribunal following the recent decision to extend ULFA-I's ban for five more years. Citing ULFA-I’s ongoing efforts to secede Assam from India, the MHA had extended the ban for five more years.

The ULFA, which was formed in April 1979, had also been accused of maintaining strong links with other insurgent groups and involvement in extortion and violence in Northeast India.

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