Naga activist Neingulo Krome faces travel ban; AIPP and NSCN denounce Indian authorities

In a disturbing development, Indian immigration authorities have imposed travel restrictions on Neingulo Krome, Secretary General of the Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), as he attempted to travel abroad. The denial of Krome’s right to travel, most recently on April 7, 2025, en route to Kathmandu, has sparked fierce condemnation

The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) in a statement accused the Indian government of “suppressing and oppressing” the Naga indigenous peoples, making it increasingly difficult for them to engage with other indigenous groups outside India. The NSCN claimed the government’s actions were part of a broader strategy to prevent the Nagas from asserting their distinct identity, which is tied to their historical and political rights. “No doubt, Government of India is desperately trying to drive the Nagas to the point to stop them from rightfully propagating themselves as a distinct people with their own historical and political identity,” the NSCN said.

The group also questioned why India seemed so intent on suppressing awareness of the 2015 Framework Agreement signed between the government and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN), which was publicly shared globally, despite the Indian government’s earlier high political profile for the agreement.

“Why is India getting so panicked about letting the world know about the historic August 3rd, 2015 Framework Agreement?” the NSCN asked.

In a strongly worded response, the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) condemned the arbitrary restrictions placed on Krome, particularly highlighting the lack of any official explanation or legal justification for the denial. According to the AIPP, this was not the first such incident, citing a similar event in Kolkata in 2020 when Krome was also told that he could not travel. In both instances, no directive was provided by the authorities, and in the latest incident, Krome’s luggage was reportedly refused for unloading, further compounding the injustice.

AIPP’s statement stressed that India’s actions were in clear violation of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to personal liberty, including the right to travel abroad. “In a democratic country like India, no fundamental right — including the right to travel abroad — can be curtailed by the state without due process of law,” the AIPP noted.

The AIPP warned that such actions have broader implications, not just for civil society, but for the very principles of Indian democracy. The organization also called on the Indian government to clarify the legal basis for the travel restrictions and to ensure that those responsible for these actions are held accountable. “Preventing individuals from travelling without legal due process is not only a violation of fundamental human rights but reflects the arbitrary exercise of power by the authorities,” the AIPP said.

Both the NSCN and AIPP have expressed unwavering support for Neingulo Krome, asserting that such acts of repression only highlight the ongoing struggle for the political and human rights of the Naga people. The groups urged the Government of India to uphold its international human rights obligations and to cease the harassment of Indigenous human rights defenders.

MT