'Do not travel' to Manipur, US asks citizens in Level 2 advisory
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 22 2025: The United States has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for India, urging its citizens to exercise increased caution while visiting several parts of the country due to crime and terrorism, and placing a strict "do not travel" warning for Manipur in view of the continuing violence and law and order situation in the state.

The updated travel advisory, issued on June 18 by the US Department of State, specifically cautioned American citizens against travelling to Manipur due to threats of violence and crime arising from the ongoing ethnic conflict that has gripped the state since May last year.

The advisory noted that the situation in Manipur remains unstable, with continued reports of community displacement and extensive violence.

Highlighting the heightened security risk, the advisory stated that attacks against Indian government targets occur regularly in the state.

In line with the security assessment, US government employees posted in India are required to obtain prior approval before travelling to Manipur.

The advisory also draws attention to the broader security situation in the northeastern region, urging US citizens to reconsider travel to the area due to sporadic incidents of terrorism and violence.

Ethnic insurgent groups are known to occasionally "carry out attacks targeting public transport systems, including bombings of buses, trains, rail tracks, and markets, particularly in the past", the advisory stated.

However, it noted that there have been no recent reports of violence in several northeastern states such as Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Sikkim, or Tripura.

Despite this, travel restrictions remain in place for US government personnel, who must seek prior approval before visiting Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, or areas outside the capital cities of Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Tripura.

The travel advisory came as Manipur continues to witness frequent incidents of violence despite the presence of central security forces and the state under President's Rule since February this year.

The state has remained under prolonged political uncertainty, and community tensions persist across various districts.

The US State Department has advised its citizens to refer to its official website for further guidance on travel to high-risk areas, while reiterating the importance of personal safety and situational awareness for any travel across India.

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