The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal has upheld the central government’s decision to impose a five-year ban on the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), also known as NSCN (K), along with all its factions, wings and front organisations. The order, issued on March 19 and notified recently, confirms that the group’s activities pose a serious risk to the sovereignty and integrity of India.

Presiding Officer Justice Nelson Sailo, in his ruling, stated that the actions of NSCN (K) are “detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India” and are aimed at achieving its objective to “secede from India.” The tribunal further observed that the nature of activities carried out by the outfit and its cadres leaves “no room for doubt that the NSCN (K) is waging war” against the Government of India.

The Centre had imposed the ban on the organisation with effect from September 28, 2025, for a period of five years. Under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, such a notification must be referred to a tribunal within 30 days to determine whether there is sufficient cause for declaring the organisation unlawful. Accordingly, the matter was examined by the tribunal before confirming the ban.

The tribunal concluded that there was “unrebutted” evidence indicating that the group’s activities were intended to create a “threat to the sovereignty of the country.” It highlighted that NSCN (K) seeks to establish a “sovereign Nagaland” by incorporating Naga-inhabited areas of the Indo-Myanmar region through secession from the Indian Union.

Emphasising the seriousness of the threat, the tribunal said, “The activities of the NSCN (K) are, therefore, a direct threat to the sovereignty and integrity of India and it is imperative that the unlawful activities be banned in order to prevent NSCN (K) from continuing its disruptive and anti-national activities.”

After reviewing materials submitted by the central government as well as the governments of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland, the tribunal found that the organisation had engaged in activities that undermine national unity and the safety of citizens. It warned that without immediate action, the group could regroup, rearm itself, expand its cadre, procure sophisticated weapons and cause further loss of life among civilians and security forces.

The tribunal also noted that NSCN (K) has been aligning with other unlawful organisations such as ULFA (I), PREPAK and PLA. It has been involved in kidnapping for ransom, extortion from businessmen, government officials and civilians, and possession of illegal arms and ammunition. Additionally, the group is said to receive assistance from anti-India forces in other countries for procuring weapons and support.

Detailing the group’s activities, the Union Home Ministry had earlier cited multiple incidents between September 28, 2020 and April 30, 2025. These included 71 registered cases involving its cadres, 56 chargesheets filed, and 35 prosecutions. The data also mentioned involvement in 51 other criminal cases, arrest of 85 cadres, surrender of 69 members, and recovery of arms, ammunition and explosives.

The tribunal also recorded that during this period, 13 underground cadres were killed in action by security forces. State governments of Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh had supported the Centre’s decision to declare the organisation unlawful under the Act.

Concluding its findings, the tribunal held, “In view of the above discussion...there is sufficient cause to declare NSCN (K) along with all its factions, wings and front organisations, as 'unlawful association' for a period of 5 (Five) years w.e.f 28.09.2025. The same is confirmed by this Tribunal under... the UA(P) Act, 1967.”

The NSCN (K) has been banned repeatedly over the years, with the prohibition renewed every five years. The outfit, once led by S S Khaplang until his death in 2017, continues to operate under new leadership. Meanwhile, its rival faction, NSCN-IM, remains engaged in peace talks with the central government to find a long-term resolution to the decades-old insurgency in Nagaland.