By Pragati Saha
On Monday, the centre decided to continue the ban forced on the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) NSCN(K) along with its front organisations, factions, and wings for an extra five years, as it was taking part in activities that were prejudicial to the integrity and sovereignty of India. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) stated that the ban will be implemented from September 28th for a period of five years.
The central government trusts that the NSCN(K) has mentioned its desire to establish a sovereign Nagaland, which includes the Naga population of the Indo-Myanmar area, by separating from the Indian Union. According to the statement, it has also linked itself with other illegal organisations such as the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) (ULFA(I)), the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
The group is also linked to kidnapping for ransom and asking money from officials, businessmen, and other common people. They also have illegal weapons and ammunition and have received help from several anti-India forces in several other countries to get arms and other assistance.
The home ministry stated that several incidents have taken place where NSCN(K) cadres were taking part between 28th September 2020 and 30th April 2025. These consist of the enrollment of 71 cases against its cadres, where 56 charge sheets were submitted, and 35 cadres got prosecuted. Also, its cadres were involved in 51 more criminal activities, which led to the arrest of 85 cadres and 69 surrenders. Further, 69 arms, 52 magazines, 931 live rounds, 10 grenades, 50 detonators, 3 explosive gel tubes, and 200 g of trinitrotoluene. One and a half kilograms of improvised explosive devices and 800 g of other explosives were recovered. During this time, 13 underground cadres died in action by security forces and police.
For many years, the NSCN (K) has been an organization that is prohibited, with its ban getting extended every five years. After a decade of leadership, its leader, S.S. Khaplang, a Naga from Myanmar, passed away in 2017. The group is run by his two deputies now.
On the other hand, its rival faction, NSCN-IM, is taking part in peace talks with the central government to establish a long-term peaceful solution to the issue in Nagaland that has been taking place for seven decades.