Government declares Kamatapur Liberation Organisation a banned terrorist group

NEW DELHI: Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), a militant outfit which operates in West Bengal and Assam and is fighting for a sovereign state, has been declared a banned terrorist group by the government.

In a gazette notification, the Home Ministry said that exercising the powers conferred under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the central government proposes to add Kamatapur Liberation Organisation and all its formation and front organisations as a terrorist organisation.

KLO, which came into existence in 1993 has been consolidating its position in the fourteen districts in Assam and six districts in West Bengal both organisationally and in terms of weapons and cadres and to achieve the objective of a separate "sovereign Kamatapur state".

The outfit is also resorting to terrorism in the form of killing of innocent civilians and security forces and engaging in other violent activities including looting, kidnapping, landmine and bomb blasts, the notification said.

The central government "believes that the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation is involved in terrorism," it said.

KLO was formed to address problems of the Koch Rajbongshi community and perceived neglect of Kamtapuri language, identity and grievances of economic deprivation of the community.