Tribunal begins hearing on declaring 2 outfits unlawful

The Unlawful Activities Prevention Tribunal today began hearing to scrutinise the grounds for declaring two extremist groups in Tripura as unlawful.
The proceedings, chaired by Justice Veena Birbal started over outlawing outfits All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) and National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), official sources said.
The Centre had declared the two outfits outlawed following recommendations by the state government about 15 years ago.
The ATTF and NLFT were banned in April 1997 by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Besides, Justice Birbal, 12 officials including Additional Solicitor General Rajiva Mehra and the union government's Standing Counsel Sumit Pushkaran participated in the hearing.

Tripura government's lawyer Gopal Sinha came from Delhi to represent the state in the tribunal.
Political parties, state government and any individual or organisation were allowed to participate in the public hearing.