06-18-2003, 06:17 PM
India's home ministry has blacklisted more than 800 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the country's north-east for alleged links with separatist groups.
The move follows a drive by the government and intelligence agencies to trace the funding that rebels receive.
A senior home ministry official said a list of the NGOs had been given to all state governments in the region with a request to keep them under close watch.
The official told the BBC the government had solid evidence of close links between the NGOs and rebels.
Delhi had been concerned at the proliferation of NGOs in the region, the official said.
He said most were of dubious origin and served as a conduit for rebel funding both from foreign sources and government development money.
The move follows a drive by the government and intelligence agencies to trace the funding that rebels receive.
A senior home ministry official said a list of the NGOs had been given to all state governments in the region with a request to keep them under close watch.
The official told the BBC the government had solid evidence of close links between the NGOs and rebels.
Delhi had been concerned at the proliferation of NGOs in the region, the official said.
He said most were of dubious origin and served as a conduit for rebel funding both from foreign sources and government development money.