Govt slaps fresh ban on two insurgent groups of Tripura

New Delhi: The government has imposed a fresh ban on two insurgent groups in Tripura for their violent and subversive activities, which aim at establishment of an independent nation.

In a notification, the Home Ministry said the central government is of the opinion that the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) have been engaging in subversive and violent activities, undermining the authority of the government and spreading terror and violence among people for achieving their objectives.

The ministry said the NLFT and the ATTF have, as their professed aim, establishment of an independent nation by 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.

"In exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the central government hereby declares that 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 notification said.

The rebel outfits in Tripura, formed in 1990 with the objective of "expulsion of all foreigners who entered the state after 1956", were first banned in 1997. The fresh ban will continue for five more years, an official said.