NSF & NSA Condemns Indian Government’s Denial of Travel Rights to Neingulo Krome

Ukhrul, April 18: Two prominent Naga organisations have strongly condemned the Indian government’s denial of international travel to Neingulo Krome, a veteran human rights activist and Secretary General of the Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR). The incident occurred on April 7 at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, where Krome was reportedly stopped by immigration officials without explanation while en route to Kathmandu, Nepal, to attend a meeting organised by the Asia Indigenous Peoples’ Pact (AIPP).

In separate press statements, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) and the Naga Scholars’ Association (NSA) described the incident as part of a long-standing pattern of harassment and obstruction targeting Mr. Krome, and more broadly, the Naga community’s advocacy for indigenous rights and democratic freedoms.

The NSA expressed “deepest condemnation” of what it termed an “arbitrary and unjust act,” calling the denial of travel “a clear violation of fundamental rights guaranteed to every individual under any democratic country.” The organisation noted that this is not the first time Krome has faced such restrictions. Past incidents have included airport detentions, surveillance, and other forms of interference, all of which the NSA framed as evidence of a repressive state apparatus intolerant of dissenting voices.

“This latest act… is emblematic of a deeper malaise — a state machinery increasingly insecure in the face of dissent and diversity,” the NSA stated. “What we witness is the normalisation of repression, where the freedom of citizens is trampled upon with bureaucratic ease and political intent.”

“Such actions are also a stark reminder of the diminishing space for democratic dialogue in India. The travel denial is a reflection of a state desperate to stifle natural rights – among them, the right to movement, expression, and dignity,” said NSA.

Related | AIPP Condemns Repeated Arbitrary Travel Restrictions and Harassment imposed on Neingulo Krome

Echoing these concerns, the NSF highlighted a similar incident from 2020, when Mr. Krome was stopped at Kolkata Airport while traveling to Bangkok. In both cases, authorities reportedly provided no justification beyond a terse “You cannot travel.” The NSF argued that such actions not only violate domestic legal norms but also contravene international human rights obligations, including Article 13.2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.

“The denial of this right to Mr. Krome, without explanation or recourse, is an affront not only to his person but to the principles of democracy and justice that the Indian State claims to uphold,” the NSF said.

The NSF further contextualised the incident within what it described as a broader campaign of systemic oppression targeting the Naga people. “Mr. Krome’s treatment is emblematic of the systemic oppression faced by the Naga people — denied freedom of movement, fenced off from kin across borders, and subjected to draconian laws that perpetuate fear and subjugation,” it stated.

Related | Travel Ban Imposed on NPMHR Secretary General Neingulo Krome, Serious Infringement on Fundamental Rights: UNPO, GNF

Both organisations have called on the Indian government to issue a formal explanation, restore Mr. Krome’s travel rights, and cease what they describe as ongoing unlawful harassment.

The NSF also urged international human rights bodies, including the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) and the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO), to hold India accountable for violations of international law and its commitments under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).