New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS): The central government on Wednesday banned Naga rebel group National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) for five years.

The decision to declare NSCN (K) an unlawful organisation was taken in a cabinet meeting here, union Minister for Communications and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad told media persons after the meeting of the union cabinet.

The organisation has been banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

"In recent times, a lot of explosions and ambushes have been carried out by the organisation. The government of India, after elaborate consideration, has decided to declare NSCN(K) an unlawful organisation for five years," Prasad said.

S.S. Khaplang heads the NSCN (Khaplang) faction while Sumi, a resident of Zhunehboto in Nagaland, holds charge of the armed wing of the group.

In 1988, the NSCN split into two factions -- the NSCN(K) led by Khaplang and NSCN(IM) led jointly by Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah.