New Delhi, March 27: A Delhi court approved the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) request on Friday to conduct hearings at its headquarters concerning a case involving seven foreign nationals arrested for allegedly receiving terrorist training in Myanmar.
In light of security concerns, the Patiala House Court accepted the NIA’s plea, directing that all future hearings take place at the NIA headquarters, where the accused will be presented before a designated judge.
The six Ukrainian nationals and one American citizen were scheduled to appear in NIA court after completing their 11-day custody. However, the agency filed a petition requesting that subsequent hearings occur at its headquarters instead of the court premises.
Upon accepting the petition, the court instructed that the accused be presented at the NIA headquarters, where further proceedings will now take place.
According to the NIA, this case is deemed “extremely sensitive” and could have national and international ramifications. The agency alleges that all seven individuals entered India on tourist visas, then traveled to Mizoram before illegally crossing into Myanmar.
Investigations revealed that they were in contact with ethnic armed groups in Myanmar and were reportedly training in the use of weapons and drone operations. The agency also accused the defendants of facilitating the purchase and movement of drones and electronic jamming devices from Europe, which were utilized in cross-border training modules.
The accused include Ukrainian nationals Petro Hubra, Taras Sliwiak, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Marian Stefankiv, Maksym Honcharuk, and Viktor Kaminsky, along with American citizen Matthew Aaron VanDyke. VanDyke was arrested in Kolkata, while three Ukrainians were apprehended in Delhi and the remaining three in Lucknow.
This case is part of a larger NIA investigation into an international network of foreign mercenaries active in India’s northeastern region. Previous inquiries indicated that this group had been operational since 2024, providing training to militant elements in Myanmar. Authorities noted that the investigation is not limited to the arrested individuals but also aims to identify local collaborators and uncover a broader conspiracy that may involve using the northeastern corridor for international militant activities.
The NIA stated that it continues to investigate this extensive network and is coordinating with various domestic and international agencies to uncover all related connections.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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