The NIA has linked an American citizen and six Ukrainians arrested after allegedly entering India illegally through Mizoram to a suspected drone-warfare network in Myanmar. The agency is probing their alleged connection to a February drone attack on a Myanmar National Airlines aircraft and the “Matthew Van Dyke module”, which reportedly supplied drones and training to Myanmar-based armed groups.

American citizen Matthew Van Dyke and six Ukrainian nationals, arrested in March for allegedly entering India illegally through the Mizoram border, have come under scrutiny in connection with a drone attack on a civilian aircraft in neighbouring Myanmar, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has informed a Delhi court.

The agency made the allegations before the Patiala House court while seeking permission to question Van Dyke and Ukrainian national Kaminskyi Viktor, both currently lodged in Tihar jail. The court allowed the interrogation, noting that questioning accused persons is a routine part of an investigation and that judicial intervention in an ongoing probe should generally be limited.

NIA traces movement of Ukrainian nationals

According to the NIA, its investigation has established that at least 14 Ukrainian nationals entered India at different times on tourist visas before travelling to Mizoram through Guwahati.