The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested six Ukrainian citizens and one US citizen for allegedly supporting ethnic war groups in Myanmar by providing arms, terrorist equipment and training. The accused have been identified as Matthew Aaron Van Dyke (US citizen), Hruba Petro (Ukrainian citizen), Slaviak Taras (Ukrainian citizen), Ivan Suchmanovsky (Ukrainian citizen), Stefankiv Marian (Ukrainian citizen). citizen), Honcharuk Maxim (Ukrainian citizen) and Kaminsky Victor (Ukrainian citizen).
They have been arrested in a case registered under Section 18 (terrorist conspiracy) and BNS. NIA Special Judge Prashant Sharma on Monday sent all seven accused to 11-day NIA custody. NIA had asked for 15 days’ custody.
Seeking remand, the NIA alleged that the detained accused would also show that they were in direct contact with unidentified terrorists armed with AK-47 rifles and had assisted them in their terrorist/illegal activities.
The NIA has also alleged that the accused persons associated with ethnic armed groups are supporting some banned Indian insurgent groups by providing them arms, terrorist equipment and training. “The above aspects definitely affect India’s national security and interests,” the NIA said.
Granting the 11-day remand, the court said, “Therefore, it is not the case that the FIR does not mention the illegal acts committed by the accused against national security and the screenshots are saved. In other words, Section 18 of the UA(P)A is broadly applicable.”
Earlier, the NIA had arrested three Ukrainian nationals from Delhi, three from Lucknow and one American national from Kolkata. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Prashant Sharma sent a notice of seven to eleven days for their NIA custody till March 27. The hearing was held in-camera. Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Atul Tyagi, Amit Rohila and others appeared for the NIA.
It is alleged that they came to India on visa and then entered Mizoram, which is a protected area. Subsequently, they entered Myanmar and came in contact with ethnic war groups. NIA alleges that they were trained in Myanmar and were training ethnic war groups. These groups are linked to insurgent groups in India. It is also alleged that they had brought a large consignment of drones from Europe to India.
On the other hand, senior advocate Pramod Kumar Dubey and advocate Ankur Saigal appeared on behalf of the accused. He opposed the detention application filed by the NIA.
