NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday declared the rebel Naga outfit, National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) or NSCN(K), as an ‘unlawful assocation’ for a further period of five years in view of its continuing violent activities and alignment with other insurgent groups and anti-India forces based abroad, in furtherance of its secessionist agenda.“The Central government is of the opinion that the aforesaid activities of NSCN (K) are detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India and if these are not immediately curbed and controlled, the NSCN (K) may further regroup and rearm itself, expand its cadres, procure sophisticated weapons, cause loss of lives of civilians and security forces and thereby accelerate its anti-national activities,” the home ministry stated in the notification extending the ban on NSCN(K) and all its fronts under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.The home ministry said NSCN(K)’s declared aim is to create a sovereign Nagaland incorporating the Naga inhabited areas of Indo-Myanmar region by secession from the Indian Union, for which it has aligned itself with other unlawful associations like the ULFA(I), PREPAK and PLA. Also, it continues to indulge in kidnapping for ransom and extortion of money from businessmen, government officials and other civilians, and possesses illegal arms and ammunition. The outfit has obtained assistance from anti-India forces in other countries to procure arms and other assistance, it added.Justifying the five-year extension of the ban, the ministry said that in the period between Sept 28, 2020 and April 30, 2025, 13 NSCN(K) underground cadres were killed by the security forces; 71 cases registered against its cadres, 56 chargesheets filed and 35 cadres prosecuted; 51 cadres found to be involved in criminal activities; and 85 cadres arrested and 69, surrendered. Also, huge caches of arms including 69 weapons, 931 live rounds of ammunition, IEDs and 800 gm explosives etc, were recovered from its hideouts.“The Central government, having regard to the unlawful activities mentioned above, is further of the opinion that circumstances exist which render it necessary to declare the NSCN (K) along with all its factions, wings and front organisations to be an unlawful association with immediate effect from the September 28, 2025…for a period of five years,” MHA said in the notification.