New Delhi: Government has extended the ban imposed on NDFB (S), the Bodo militant group responsible for the killing of more than 70 people in Assam this week, by five more years. The ban is applicable to all factions of NDFB, sources said on Friday.
The notification declaring the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) as an outlawed organisation under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for five years was issued by the Home Ministry on Monday, official sources said. The Home Ministry has approached a Tribunal set up by the Delhi High Court for the ratification of its order.
The anti-talks faction of NDFB, led by Songbijit Ingti Kathar, has killed more than 70 Adivasi tribals in three districts of Assam in the last four days. NDFB traces its origin to Bodo Security Force, a militant group formed in 1986. The current name NDFB was adopted in 1994. NDFB was first banned on November 23, 2002.
It suffered a major split in 2008 when founder chairman Ranjan Daimary went ahead with serial blasts, prompting secretary Gobinda Basumatary to constitute NDFB (Progressive). Songbijit in 2009 fell out with the outfit’s top leadership and floated NDFB(S), now the most dreaded faction.
Meanwhile, the Centre on Friday extended the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with NDFB (Progressive) for six months till June 30, 2015. This followed tripartite talks with the representatives of NDFB (P) held on December 22, 2014. The meeting was attended by officials of Assam government and the Home Ministry.
