Union Government banned militant outfit KLO operating in WB, Assam

Union Government on 11 November 2014 banned militant outfit Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), which operates in West Bengal and Assam. The group is fighting for a sovereign state Kamatapur.

Union Home Ministry in a notification said that under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967, it has proposed to add Kamatapur Liberation Organisation and all its formation and front organisations as a terrorist organisation. With this notification, KLO will be listed in the First Schedule and has joined the 37th militant organization.

About Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO)
Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) came into existence in 1993. KLO was formed to address problems of the Koch Rajbongshi community and perceived neglect of Kamtapuri language, identity and grievances of economic deprivation of the community. It has been consolidating its position in fourteen districts of Assam and six districts of West Bengal.

The group has emerged as a major threat and is demanding an independent county Sovereign Kamatapur State of ten districts in West Bengal and Assam. The 10 districts demanded by them includes six districts of North Bengal namely Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, Malda and four of lower Assam, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Dhubri and Goalpara.

It is alleged that the outfit is connected to militant groups such Ulfa and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).