Summary
Indian authorities arrested six Ukrainians and one American for entering India's northeast without the right permits and possibly going to Myanmar to train armed groups in drone use. The country's counterterrorism agency charged them with breaking anti-terror laws, holding them until March 27. Two more Americans were separately arrested for using drones near a Coast Guard location.
Key Facts
- India arrested six Ukrainian nationals and one American citizen for alleged illegal entry and activities related to drone warfare.
- They were picked up at different airports: Kolkata, Lucknow, and Delhi.
- India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) charged them with breaking anti-terror laws.
- The arrested individuals might have crossed into Myanmar to help train armed groups.
- Matthew Aaron VanDyke, the American arrested, has a history of involvement in conflict zones and runs a consulting firm for security training.
- Two more American tourists were arrested in Kochi for flying drones near a Coast Guard base.
- India's northeastern region, like Mizoram, shares a long border with Myanmar, making it a sensitive area for illegal crossings.
- The NIA claims the accused were involved in moving drones to support ethnic and insurgent groups in Myanmar and India.
