UAPA Tribunal Upholds Centre's Declaration That NDFB & ULFA Are 'Unlawful Associations' [Read Orders]

The Unlawful Activities Prevention Tribunal has upheld the Central Government view that National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) are unlawful organizations.

The Central Government, last year, had declared both the organizations, along with all its groups, factions and front organizations as unlawful associations. As per Section 4(3) of the Act, the Tribunal has to hold an inquiry and decide whether or not there was sufficient cause for declaring the NDFB as an unlawful association within the meaning of the expression defined under Section 2(p) of the Act. 

Justice Prasanta Kumar Deka, who presided the Tribunal agreed with the findings of the Government, observed thus, in the matter of ULFA: The intent behind such subversive acts involving the members/cadre of the outfit is to create an environment of fear psychosis amongst the members of the society in general and to go ahead with the object of the outfit in achieving the determined goal of an independent Assam seceded from the mainstream India. This goes to show that the actions which are subversive in nature of the cadres of the outfit are intended to bring about the cession of the State of Assam, a part of the territory of India from the Union of India as the outfit disclaims the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India.

It is surprising to note that even after the act of formal surrender, substantial cache of arms are recovered from the districts having a stronghold of the NDFB cadres in lower Assam which were kept hidden, the Tribunal noted in the order while holding that NDFB is also an unlawful association.

The Tribunal held that evidence of the witnesses for the organizations failed to place on record any materials which outweigh the grounds put forth by the representatives of the Government of India and the State.

Click here to Read/Download Order [ULFA]

Click here to Read/Download (NDFB)