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The Arunachal Pradesh government recently told the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) tribunal that the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K), a banned organization that seeks to merge the Naga-dominated areas of India and Myanmar, is trying to “convert people to Christianity” to have a “homogeneous society for a common cause”.
The UAPA Tribunal on 19 March upheld the notification of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) dated 22 September 2025 to declare the NSCN-K an unlawful association under the UAPA, 1967 for the next five years. The group was involved in an ambush on an army convoy on 4 June 2015 in Manipur in which 18 army personnel were killed.
In a statement, the Arunachal Pradesh government said that apart from forcefully converting locals to Christianity, the group intends to “bring all sub-tribes under one Tangsang-Naga banner” and “this is indicative of a deeper conspiracy to create a homogenous demographic structure”.
The unit operates in Tirap, Changlang and Longding (TCL) districts of Arunachal Pradesh. The state government did not depose in these ranks before the tribunal, which was set up in 2015 when the garment was first banned.
It added that the group was indulging in illegal interference in the electoral process, drug trafficking and had set up hideouts/camps in three districts for attacking/ambushing security forces.
NSCN-K, named after its leader SS Khaplang, who died in Myanmar in 2017, was formed in January 1990 after a split from its parent group – the National Socialist Council of Nagaland – in 1988. It is now known as NSCN (Isak-Muivah) and is in peace talks with the government. ₹17 lakh for Khaplang’s arrest for carrying out an ambush on an army convoy.
The NSCN-K faction also entered into a ceasefire agreement with the Union government in 2001, which was unilaterally abrogated by the unit on 27 March 2015. The NSCN-K was initially banned for five years in 2020, which was extended for another five years in 2025.
The ministry informed the tribunal that in the last five years, NSCN-K factions were involved in 29 incidents of violence resulting in 18 deaths and injuries to 16 security personnel and civilians; In 56 cases, 71 cases were registered and 35 cadres were prosecuted or convicted during this period. 85 cadres were arrested, 69 cadres surrendered and 51 other crimes, including kidnappings, were reported. A large number of weapons were also found.
The ministry said the group reportedly has an approximate strength of 400-500 cadres with 400 weapons in Myanmar, including 50-75 Indian Naga cadres. The governments of Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh were consulted and recommended that the NSCN-K be declared an illegal association.
The ministry said the group aims to create a sovereign Nagaland comprising the Naga-inhabited areas of Indo-Myanmar by seceding from the Indian Union, associates with other illegal outfits such as ULFA(I), PREPAK and PLA, and engages in kidnapping for ransom and extorting money from businessmen, government officials and others. It is also seeking help from anti-India forces in other countries to procure weapons and other assistance, she added.
Published – 01 April 2026 22:34 IST
