Seven foreign nationals held for national security breach, sent to 30-day custody

A Delhi court on Monday remanded seven foreign nationals, including six Ukrainians and one American, to 30 days of judicial custody on charges of breaching India’s national security . The accused were produced before NIA Special Judge Prashant Sharma following the completion of their initial custody under the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The accused, identified as US citizen Matthew Aaron Van Dyke and Ukrainian nationals Hurba Petro, Slyviak Taras, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Stefankiv Marian, Honcharuk Maksim, and Kaminskyi Viktor, had earlier been under NIA custody for interrogations. On March 16, the court had allowed the agency 11 days for questioning, which was later extended by 10 more days.

According to the investigation, several of the Ukrainians entered India on tourist visas and traveled to Guwahati before moving on to Mizoram without the mandatory Restricted Area Permit or Protected Area Permit. They are alleged to have crossed into Myanmar illegally to conduct pre-planned training sessions for Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs).

The court’s order noted that the allegations extend beyond unauthorized travel. The accused are alleged to have supported proscribed Indian insurgent groups by supplying weapons and training. “These actions directly involve national security and the country’s interests,” the court observed, citing Section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which pertains to conspiracy.

The case highlights the continuing vigilance by Indian authorities against foreign nationals allegedly involved in training and arming insurgent networks, underlining the sensitive security environment along the northeast and border regions .