Government Extends Ban on NDFB by 5 Years

New Delhi, November 25, 2019:

The central government issued orders on Sunday to extend the ban on the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), a group that seeks a sovereign Boroland, by another five years,

The reason for this, the MHA said, is that the outfit, formed in 1986, had continued to indulge in illegal and violent activities intended to "disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India".

The MHA said, "NDFB has been engaging in unlawful and violent activities thereby undermining the authority of the Government of India and the Government of Assam and spreading terror and panic among the people; indulging in extortion of money from various sections of the society with a view to financing and executing its plans for the creation of a separate Bodoland; embarking on a systematic drive for recruitment of fresh cadres with a view to continuing its terrorist and insurgency activities..."

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The Home Ministry has extended the ban on NDBF under the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

The MHA further accused the Bodo insurgent group of “undermining the authority of the government, spreading terror and panic among people, causing carnage and ethnic violence, resulting in killings and destruction of properties of non-Bodos, inhabiting the Bodo-dominated areas in Assam”.

The MHA further stated that the "NDFB’s activities are detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India and that it is an unlawful association."

According to the MHA notification, the NDFB has been involved in 62 violent incidents since January 2015, resulting in killings of 19 civilians and 55 extremists, besides the arrest of 450 ultras and confiscation of 444 arms from them.

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