Nagaland’s lone Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, S. Supongmeren Jamir, has appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for intervention in the deportation case of Pastor John Roughton, a long-term resident of Nagaland and an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI).
In a letter dated December 6, 2024, which has been circulating on social media, Jamir expressed concerns over Roughton’s deportation and sought clarity and resolution on humanitarian grounds. The authenticity of the letter has been confirmed by a senior official at the Nagaland Congress Communications Department.
According to the letter, Pastor Roughton, who has resided in Nagaland for three decades and is married to an Indian-Naga woman, was detained for 45 minutes at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on October 31, 2024. He was reportedly sent back to New York on the same flight without any explanation or adherence to proper protocol, leaving his wife behind in Delhi.
“I am writing this letter as a personal request to your esteemed and respected authority,” Jamir wrote, highlighting Roughton’s significant contributions to the community. “In the last 30 years of his stay in Nagaland, there has been no formal complaint against him, nor has he caused any disturbance of any kind. Instead, he has worked tirelessly and selflessly for the community in Nagaland.”
Jamir noted that Roughton holds a valid Overseas Citizen of India card (No. A2327906) and urged the government to allow him to return to Nagaland on humanitarian grounds to reunite with his family. A copy of Roughton’s OCI card was enclosed with the letter.
The deportation has sparked widespread concern among the local Christian community in Nagaland. Many are questioning the lack of transparency in the matter, viewing it as potential targeting of a religious leader.
The MP’s appeal underscores Roughton’s long-standing service to Nagaland’s community and the absence of any allegations or complaints against him.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has yet to respond to the letter or provide any clarification regarding the circumstances of Roughton’s deportation. Similarly, the Nagaland government has remained silent on the issue despite growing outrage among the local population.
The incident has raised broader questions about the treatment of long-term residents with OCI status and the implications for community leaders working in sensitive regions like Nagaland. The community awaits a response from both the state and central governments.
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