Centre constitutes tribunal to adjudicate ban on National Liberation Front of Tripura and All Tripura Tiger Force under UAPA

New Delhi [India], October 19 : The Central government on Thursday constituted a tribunal for the purpose of adjudicating whether there is sufficient cause for declaring the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) as unlawful associations under Unlawful Activities of (Prevention) Act.
In a notification, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs made the announcement for constituting the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal that consists of Justice Manish Choudhury, Judge of the Gauhati High Court.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Unlawful
Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the Central Government hereby constitutes "The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal" consisting of Justice Manish Choudhury, Judge of the Gauhati High Court, for the purpose of adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) as Unlawful Association," reads the notification.
The Centre took the decision almost 15 days after the MHA declared the NLFT, ATTF and all of their factions, wings and front organisations as unlawful associations for a period of five years.
The MHA issued a notification in this regard on October 3 declaring that the order will be effective from the date of issuance of the notification.
The MHA then said its move came after it considered that the NLFT, the ATTF and their factions' professed aim to establish an independent nation by the secession of Tripura from India through armed struggle in alliance with other armed secessionist organisations of Tripura and to incite indigenous people of Tripura for such secession.
As per the notification, "it was also observed that the NLFT and the ATTF have been engaging in subversive and violent activities, thereby undermining the authority of the government and spreading terror and violence among the people for achieving their objectives".
"The two groups were also maintaining close nexus with other unlawful associations of North East with the aim of mobilising their support," the October 3 notification reads.
As per the MHA, the two organisations and their factions in pursuance of their aims and objectives in recent past engaged in violent and unlawful activities which are prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India.
Besides, the two organisations and their factions are involved in the killing of civilians and personnel belonging to the police and security forces as well as engaged in the extortion of funds from the public including businessmen and traders in Tripura.
The two groups and their factions were establishing and maintaining camps in neighbouring countries for the purpose of safe sanctuary, training, and procurement of arms and ammunition, reads the then notification.
The MHA clarified that "the aforesaid activities of the NLFT and the ATTF are detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India and that they are unlawful associations."
It also pointed out that if there is no immediate curb and control of the NLFT and the ATTF will take the opportunity to "mobilise their cadres for escalating their secessionist, subversive, and violent activities; propagate anti-national activities in collusion with forces inimical to India's sovereignty and national integrity".
Apart from these, the MHA notification then mentions that these groups "indulge in killings of civilians and targeting of the police and Security forces personnel; procuring and inducting illegal arms and ammunitions from across the international border; and extorting and collecting huge funds from the public for their unlawful activities".
"Now, therefore, in the exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), (hereinafter referred to as the said Act) the Central Government hereby declares the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) along with all its factions, wings and front organisations and the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) along with all its factions, wings and front organisations as unlawful associations," the earlier notification reads.
"The Central Government, having regard to the above circumstances, is of the further opinion that it is necessary to declare the NLFT and the ATTF along with all their factions, wings and front organisations as unlawful associations and accordingly, in the exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 3 of the said Act, the Central Government hereby directs that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the said Act, have effect from October 3, 2023 for a period of five years," it had added then.