The National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF), as well as their associate organizations, were banned by the Centre on Tuesday for five years for their involvement in various subversive activities and threats to the country's sovereignty and integrity.

 

The Union Home Ministry stated in a notification that the NLFT and the ATTF's stated goal is to establish an independent nation by secession of Tripura from India through an armed struggle in alliance with other armed secessionist organizations of the northeastern state, as well as to incite the indigenous people of Tripura to secession.

 

According to the ministry, the NLFT and the ATTF have been participating in subversive and violent operations, undermining the authority of the government and promoting terror and violence among people in order to achieve their goals.

 

In the recent past, the two organisations engaged in violent and criminal operations in pursuit of their purposes and objectives, "which are prejudicial to India's sovereignty and integrity," it stated.

 

According to the warning, these gangs are also involved in the murders of citizens and police and security officers, as well as the extortion of monies from the general public, including businesspeople and traders.

 

The NLFT and the ATTF have created and maintained camps in neighboring nations for the aim of providing a safe haven, training, and the purchase of weaponry and ammunition, among other things.

 

According to the notification, the Centre believes that the aforementioned actions of the NLFT and the ATTF are damaging to India's sovereignty and integrity, and that they are unlawful associations.

 

"Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the central government hereby declares the NLFT along with all its factions, wings and front organisations and the ATTF along with all its factions, wings and front organisations as unlawful associations," the notice stated.

 

The prohibition will be in place for five years, according to the home ministry.