India's National Investigation Agency arrested seven foreign nationals, including six Ukrainians and reportedly an American, who have been remanded into police custody until a court hearing on March 27.
Ukraine has lodged a protest with Indian authorities over the detention of six of its nationals for allegedly traveling to the restive northeastern region without valid documents and engaging in unlawful activities, its foreign ministry said.
"There are no established facts proving the involvement of the Ukrainian citizens in unlawful activities on the territory of India or Myanmar," according to the statement. It described the local media reports as "manipulative" and "unfounded."
Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk sought consular access and an immediate release of his country's nationals while registering a formal protest in a meeting with a senior Indian official earlier this week, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.
India's main counterterrorism body arrested seven foreign nationals last week, the National Investigation Agency said. Six were Ukrainians while local media said the seventh was an American. They have been remanded into police custody until a court hearing on March 27.
A US Embassy spokesperson said they were aware of the situation, but declined to comment "for privacy reasons." A spokesman for India's Ministry of External Affairs said they had received a request for consular access and that it was being addressed in line with legal requirements given the ongoing court case.
Local media citing court proceedings reported that the accused entered India on valid visas but proceeded to the northeast without the mandatory permit for foreigners. They later crossed into Myanmar, where they reportedly met groups hostile to India and trained them in drone warfare. Initial investigations also found that multiple consignments of drones from Europe were delivered in Mizoram, the reports said.
Several dozen armed militias in India's northeast are fighting for independence or greater autonomy. Cases involving multiple Western nationals aiding militant groups are relatively rare, with past detentions more often involving local operatives or individuals from neighboring countries.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the 2021 military coup that ousted the elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Since then, Myanmar's military has lost control of much of the country to armed ethnic groups and pro-democracy fighters in an ongoing civil war.
A spokeswoman for the NIA didn't immediately respond to multiple calls, a text message and an email seeking comment. Earlier this week, she told reporters the case was in its initial stage of investigation and details can't be shared.