On Tuesday, India extended the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for an additional five years, citing the group’s ongoing efforts to foster separatist tendencies and bolster its support base in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu.
The Union Home Ministry of India imposed the ban under sub-sections (1) and (3) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
In a notification, the Home Ministry stated that the central government believes the LTTE continues to engage in activities detrimental to the country’s integrity and security. Despite its military defeat in May 2009 in Sri Lanka, the LTTE has not abandoned the concept of ‘Eelam’—an independent Tamil state. The group has been clandestinely pursuing this cause through fundraising and propaganda activities. Additionally, remnants of the LTTE leadership and cadres have been attempting to regroup and revive the organization both locally and internationally.
The notification emphasized that pro-LTTE groups continue to promote separatist sentiments among the masses and strengthen the LTTE’s support base in India, especially in Tamil Nadu. This, according to the government, poses a significant threat to India’s territorial integrity.
