NIA drops UAPA charges against US mercenary, six Ukrainians in Myanmar case
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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has not invoked the anti-terror law in its chargesheet against American mercenary Matthew Aaron VanDyke and six Ukrainian nationals arrested in March for training anti-India ethnic armed groups in Myanmar.
The accused were initially booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after being arrested at airports in Delhi, Lucknow and Kolkata during a secret operation by Indian agencies.
However, the NIA has now charged VanDyke and the Ukrainians under Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, which deal with violations concerning the entry, movement and stay of foreigners in India.
The Ministry of External Affairs did not give a reason for the change when asked about the terror charges, describing it as a “legal matter”.
According to the NIA chargesheet, the group entered India on valid visas before travelling to Mizoram, a protected area, and subsequently crossing into Myanmar. VanDyke was detained at Kolkata airport on March 13, while the Ukrainian nationals were arrested at airports in Delhi and Lucknow.
The NIA alleged that after entering Myanmar, the group came into contact with ethnic armed groups fighting the military junta that seized power in the 2021 coup. The agency alleged that these groups had links with insurgent outfits operating in India.
The chargesheet also alleges that VanDyke and the Ukrainians transported a large consignment of drones from Europe to Myanmar through India.
VanDyke is the founder of Sons of Liberty International, a non-profit security organisation that provides training to groups fighting authoritarian regimes. He has previously participated in conflicts in Libya and Syria.
The NIA told a court last week that the group was involved in a drone attack on a civilian aircraft in Myanmar. The agency is also investigating its links with Myanmar-based terror masterminds.
A Delhi court has listed the matter for October 1.