Meghalaya: Centre Forms Tribunal to Review Ban on Insurgent Group HNLC

SHILLONG: The Union Home Ministry has formed a judicial tribunal to consider the banning order on the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council, an insurgent organization based in Meghalaya.

This is after the Centre decided on November 14 to declare HNLC a banned organization for five years as it involved itself in violent activities that threatened India's sovereignty and integrity.

The Home Ministry, exercising its powers under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, has constituted the tribunal under Justice Soumitra Saikia of the Gauhati High Court. The tribunal will decide whether sufficient grounds exist for declaring the HNLC and its affiliated factions, wings, and front organizations unlawful.

The Home Ministry claims the HNLC demands the secession of Khasi and Jaintia-dominated areas from the state of Meghalaya. The outfit is blamed for intimidation and extorting money to sustain the armed campaign while having other associations with insurgent organizations of the northeastern region.

Between November 2019 and June 2024, the HNLC reportedly committed 48 crimes such as explosions and planting explosives. During the same period, 73 members of the group were arrested by the security forces.

The Home Ministry underlined that the group's activities are detrimental to India's sovereignty and integrity. It warned that without immediate intervention, the HNLC could reorganize, recruit more cadres, acquire advanced weaponry, and escalate its anti-national activities, endangering lives and property.

The judiciary tribunal will weigh up evidence in determining the legality of the ban and offer an opportunity for the HNLC to put forth its case. This approach is designed to be sensitive to legal safeguards but yet tackle national security concerns.

Centre's move exemplifies that it means to do something about northeast insurgency and not at the cost of sacrificing due process to achieve the same.

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