A judicial tribunal for the adjudication of a ban imposed on insurgent group Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) held its sitting here today.
The tribunal consisting of Justice Soumitra Saikia, a judge of the Gauhati High Court heard the legal counsel for the HNLC, Fernando Shangpliang.
“During today’s hearing, I tried to submit my showcause but as per rules, the tribunal will not allow…because time fixed was on February 13, 2025 to submit reply or objection (extension of the ban) and that the union government and state government had already submitted their affidavits,” Shangpliang told reporters.
He said that the next step will be to study the affidavits of the governments. “Therefore, by next week, the union and state governments will provide copies of their respective depositions along with their affidavits. Based on these documents, I will cross-examine all witnesses presented by the union and state governments on April 9,” which has been listed as the next hearing to be held in Guwahati, Assam.
On November 14, 2024 the central government declared HNLC a banned organisation for five years for its involvement in violent incidents and carrying out activities prejudicial to India’s sovereignty and integrity.
While declaring the ban on the organisation, the home ministry had stated that the HNLC had a declared objective of the secession of areas in Meghalaya, largely inhabited by Khasi and Jaintia tribes, and had continued intimidation and bullying of the civilian population to extort funds for their organisation.
The group is also maintaining links with other insurgent groups of the northeastern region for carrying out extortion and intimidation and indulged in 48 criminal cases, including several incidents of explosions or planting of explosives in Meghalaya, during the period from November 2019 to June 2024, it said.
And if these are not immediately curbed and controlled, the HNLC may regroup and rearm itself, expand its cadres, procure sophisticated weapons, cause loss of lives of civilians and security forces and properties and thereby accelerate its anti-national activities, the ministry said.
The tribunal will assess whether the ban is warranted on the provided grounds, and the affected outfit can present its case before it.
