MHA Constitutes Tribunal to Assess Ban on Meitei Extremist Organizations in Manipur

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has taken decisive action by constituting a tribunal under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), chaired by Justice Sanjay Kumar Medhi from the Gauhati High Court. The tribunal's primary task is to assess whether there is sufficient cause to ban the Meitei Extremist Organizations operating in Manipur.

This move follows the MHA's decision on November 13 to ban nine Meitei extremist organizations, citing their involvement in "secessionist, subversive, terrorist, and violent activities." The proscribed organizations include the Peoples’ Liberation Army (PLA) and its political arm, the Revolutionary Peoples’ Front (RPF); the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and its armed wing, the Manipur Peoples’ Army (MPA); the Peoples’ Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and its armed wing, the “Red Army”; the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) and its armed wing, also known as the “Red Army”; the Kanglei Yaol Kanba Lup (KYKL); the Coordination Committee (CorCom); and the Alliance for Socialist Unity Kangleipak (ASUK), along with all their factions, wings, and front organizations.

The MHA's notification on Tuesday declared the formation of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal, signaling the commencement of proceedings to determine the justification for declaring the Meitei Extremist Organizations as unlawful entities.

The government's position is rooted in the belief that these organizations are actively involved in attacking security forces, police, and civilians in Manipur, engaging in activities prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India.

According to the MHA, the Meitei extremist organizations have openly declared their objective as the "establishment of an independent nation by the secession of Manipur from India through armed struggle and inciting indigenous people of Manipur for such secession."

The central government asserts that these extremist groups have been participating in activities detrimental to India's sovereignty and integrity, employing armed means to achieve their objectives, attacking and killing security forces, police, and civilians in Manipur. They are also alleged to engage in acts of intimidation, extortion, and looting of civilian populations to fund their activities. Additionally, the organizations are accused of making international contacts to influence public opinion and secure assistance in the form of arms and training for their secessionist objectives. The government contends that these groups maintain camps in neighboring countries for sanctuaries, training, and clandestine procurement of arms and ammunition.