Imphal, January 10: Cracking the whip against any secessionist designs harboured by any organisations, the State Govt has taken up the necessary procedures to ban the United Friendship Organisation, more popularly known by its hitherto name Satjal, as independence of Manipur is one of its stated objectives.

Process has also been set in motion to suspend four Government employees who are office bearers of the said organization.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, a highly placed source said that though UFO (Satjal) is a registered body, the Government has decided to deregister it and ban it as "peaceful means of independence" is one of its stated objectives and goals.

No organisation registered with the Government can harbour aspirations of struggling for independence much less openly state it, said the source and added that since the objectives of UFO have the potential to challenge the integrity of the country, process to deregister it has been taken up.

A notice to deregister the organisation has also been issued, added the source.

The Centre has also issued strict instructions to the State Government to strike off the registration of UFO within a stipulated time, informed the source.

Following the Government's decision to ban the organisation, four Government employees who were office bearers of the said organisation have been placed under suspension.

The source however refused to divulge the names of the suspended employees.

If the suspended employees continue with their association with the organisation then the Government will take up further course of action against them, added the source.

Reflecting the tough stance that the Government has adopted, the source said that Government employees who have since retired from service but are still members of UFO will not be entitled to their pensions and other post retirement benefits.

Action may also be initiated against all the members of the said organisation, said the source and elaborated that once the process of banning the organisation is officially finalised, then its members may be arrested and all its offices will be closed down.

Fitting action will also be taken up against any Government employees who attend any function organised by UFO, though they may not be its members, said the source further.

The UFO had earlier filed a petition with the International Court of Justice, claiming the sovereignty of Manipur and very recently too it had announced that its ultimate goal is the independence of Manipur, though it had stressed that it would pursue its ideals in a peaceful and democratic manner.

Enjoying vast membership, UFO has numerous branch offices all over the State and its members is said to run into thousands, if not lakhs.

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