The Indian government has extended the ban on the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), also known as NSCN-K, for an additional five years, citing ongoing threats to national sovereignty and internal security. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced on September 22, 2025, that the group and all its associated factions, wings, and front organizations would continue to be declared unlawful under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. The extension of the ban will take effect from September 28, 2025.
NSCN-K has been a prominent insurgent organization in Northeast India, particularly in Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur. The group has historically sought to establish a sovereign Nagaland by seceding from India and incorporating Naga-inhabited areas of the Indo-Myanmar region. The MHA highlighted that NSCN-K has collaborated with other unlawful associations and has engaged in criminal activities, including kidnapping for ransom, extortion, and illegal arms possession. Reports also indicate that the group has received assistance from anti-India forces abroad to procure weapons and resources.
Between September 28, 2020, and April 30, 2025, NSCN-K cadres were implicated in 71 criminal cases, with 56 charge sheets filed and 35 prosecutions completed. Security forces arrested 85 individuals associated with the group, while 69 surrendered voluntarily. Operations also resulted in the deaths of 13 NSCN-K cadres. Authorities noted that these activities posed a significant threat to India’s sovereignty and internal security.
State governments in Nagaland, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh have supported the extension, emphasizing the persistent threat posed by NSCN-K to regional stability. The central government expressed concerns that without continued enforcement, the group could regroup, rearm, and escalate anti-national activities, endangering both civilians and security personnel.
While NSCN-K remains banned, its rival faction, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), or NSCN-IM, continues to engage in peace negotiations with the Indian government to address longstanding insurgency issues in Nagaland. The extension of the NSCN-K ban underscores the government’s commitment to addressing insurgent threats through legal and security measures.
The decision reflects India’s ongoing efforts to combat insurgency and maintain national integrity. By enforcing the UAPA, the government aims to prevent unlawful activities by NSCN-K and safeguard citizens, contributing to long-term peace and stability in the Northeast region.
