Ban on ULFA Extends for Two more years

By- Rongit Hajong | Date- April 20, 2011 | Place- Shillong

A Tribunal headed by Delhi High Court judge Mukta Gupta hold its two days hearing session at Shillong on the Centre’s plea seeking its nod to extend the ban on militant outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) by two more years. The state of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh has made their submission in the panel.

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal today sought the opinion of the Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh governments on the terror activities of the outlawed ULFA in their respective states. Both the states have made their submission before the Tribunal. While making their submission Advocate representing Arunachal Pradesh AK Srivastava produced three witnesses where as Advocate representing Meghalaya Ranjan Mookherjee produced several witness before the tribunal. Talking to reporters Mookherjee said three district of Meghalaya has been called however, no evidence is found in south Garo hills but from East and west Garo hills Deputy Commission and Investigating officers were quizzed in the tribunal. Political Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya Balang Dhar was also produced as witness.

The tribunal is hearing the plea of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) seeking its nod to extend the Government’s notification, issued on November 27, last year, to extend the ban by two years on the militant outfit on the ground that it has so far not abjured violence.  However, the tribunal has been given six month to submit its report either confirming the declaration or cancelling it.

The MHA had decided to re-impose the ban on the ULFA as an unlawful organisation on the ground that the outfit is yet to abjure violence. The ban, which was slapped in accordance with the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, was first imposed in 1990. Since then, the order has been re-imposed every two years.  After the release of the outfit’s Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, Deputy C-in-C Raju Baruah, Foreign Secretary Sasadhar Choudhury and Finance Secretary Chitraban Hazarika from jail the possibilities for talks with government has been increased.