TN govt bans PWG and its outfits

The Tamil Nadu government on Friday declared the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) and its front organisations as 'unlawful associations' and banned their activities in the state, alleging they might indulge in acts prejudicial to public peace.

"Members of CPI-ML, also known as People's War group, have committed various acts of violence with a view to mobilising cadres for an 'ultimate armed struggle'. A large number of criminal cases have been registered against them for various offences in Uthangarai in Krishnagiri district," an official press release said.

The PWG, through its 'seditious' literature, posters and wall writings and pamphlets, had been 'inciting and encouraging' its members and the general public to use criminal force and violence against the government machinery to achieve its avowed objective of establishing a dictatorship of the proletariat.

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Cases had been registered against them for various offences, including possession of arms and ammunition, extortion, abduction, bomb blasts. Its cadres were also found undergoing arms training near Uthangarai, the release said.

The Central government had notified the CPI-ML and its front organisations as 'terrorist organisations' under the Prevention of Terrorism Act with effect from December 5, 2001.

The Andhra Pradesh government had also declared the CPI-ML as a banned organisation under provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Public Security Act, 2002. However, it had not extended the ban beyond July 2004.