NSCN (K) ban order skips Manipur strike on Army

NEW DELHI: The Union Home Ministry notification issued on September 28 banning the NSCN (K) has made no mention of the outfit’s involvement in the deadly attack on the Indian Army convoy on June 4 in Manipur in which 18 Army personnel were killed.

ET accessed this notification issued post a Cabinet decision on September 16 to declare the NSCN (K) as an unlawful association. It mentions NSCN (K) involvement in four recent attacks – including three attacks on Assam Rifles in February, March and May, but makes no mention of the dastardly attack on the Army in June which prompted India to launch a counter-strike inside Myanmar and inflict nearly two dozen casualties.

A senior Home Ministry official revealed that 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 MHA had plans to ban the outfit since March.

“There is no doubt whatsoever that NSCN (K) is behind the June 4 ambush on the Indian Army – the NIA has lodged a case in this regard and also declared rewards on the two top NCSN (K) leaders, S.S. Khaplang and Niki Sumi, who are in Myanmar,” a senior MHA official clarified. It is not clear why the cabinet note – which would have been pending for nearly 6 months in that case, was not updated to include the June strike.

The September 28 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 organization 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.