Mr. Neingulo Krome, Secretary General of the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) and former member of the Executive Council of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), was prevented from boarding an international flight to Kathmandu Airport on 7 April 2025. Mr. Krome, a renowned human rights defender across Asia, was travelling to attend a conference organized by the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) and to access medical treatment abroad. Upon arrival at the airport, he was informed that he was not permitted to travel and authorities cancelled his passport, without providing any further explanation.
This incident is not without precedent. In 2020, Mr. Krome was also barred from travelling outside of India to engage in international advocacy. He was informed at the time that, in accordance with orders issued by the Government of India, he was not allowed to travel abroad. Despite having committed no offence, and with no formal legal proceedings brought against him, Mr. Krome has remained under a travel ban since that time. An urgent appeal was subsequently submitted by Human Rights Defenders Alert – India (HRDA) to the National Human Rights Commission of India, raising concerns about the restrictions imposed on his freedom of movement and the independence of the National Human Rights Commission. To date, no formal explanation has been issued, and no effective remedy has been granted.
Mr. Krome’s longstanding engagement with advocacy and nonviolent resistance is well-documented. As Secretary General of the NPMHR, he has played a key role in drawing attention to human rights issues affecting the Naga people and indigenous communities more broadly. He has also previously served on the Executive Council of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact and, in recognition of his contributions to human rights protection and civil society engagement, he was awarded the Iconic Honorary Doctor of Human Rights Protection with Gold Medal in 2024 by the World University of Discipleship Institute for Apostolic Ministries. Since 1998, Mr. Krome had also widely participated in various United Nations forums, such as the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations (now the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples), the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the UN Human Rights Council, until restrictions imposed in 2020 barred him from international travel.
The restriction of Mr. Krome’s movement raises serious concerns about the state of civic space and democratic engagement in India. In recent years, there has been a marked intensification of legal and administrative measures affecting non-governmental organizations, community leaders, and human rights defenders. These include the use of counter-terrorism legislation, limitations on foreign funding under the Foreign Contribution Act, crackdowns on human right defenders. The cumulative effect of these measures has been to curtail the capacity of civil society actors to participate meaningfully in domestic and international dialogue.
Within this broader context, the targeting of Naga individuals and institutions stands out as a particular area of concern. The indigenous Naga people, who have a distinct historical and political identity, continue to advocate for the concretization of the Framework Agreement signed in 2015, which was at the time seen as a milestone in advancing peaceful negotiations over the political future of the Naga people. Today, dialogues to implement the Framework Agreement continue to be stagnated, and the Naga community continues to be harassed and persecuted, particularly through the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which enables Indian armed forces and the Central Armed Police Forces deployed in areas designated as “disturbed” to conduct warrantless searches, and to arrest and kill individuals without accountability. Most recently, in 2021 Indian forces opened indiscriminate fire during a “counterinsurgency operation” in Nagaland, killing 14 Naga individuals in what was later described as a case of “mistaken” identity (Reuters, 2021).
These recent restrictions on civil society figures, such as Mr. Krome, are taking place at a time when confidence-building between negotiating parties and the Naga population remains fragile. In this context, actions that inhibit open engagement and obstruct the participation of Naga civil society actors in regional and international forums risk undermining the conditions necessary for durable political resolution. The exclusion and silencing of Naga voices has wider ramifications for trust in the negotiation process and the credibility of institutions tasked with finalizing the implementation of the 2015 Framework Agreement.
UNPO highlights the importance of ensuring that human rights defenders can operate in an environment free from fear, intimidation, and undue interference. As a member of UNPO, the Naga people have long engaged in peaceful advocacy for the recognition of their rights and aspirations. The right of their representatives to participate in international networks, conferences, and advocacy efforts is not only an issue at an individual level, but also an essential component of inclusive democratic governance.
UNPO condemns the most recent incident involving Mr. Krome, and remains committed to supporting the peaceful aspirations of its members, and reiterates the importance of upholding the fundamental rights of all peoples and their representatives.
