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Delhi court remands 6 Ukrainians, American accused of aiding insurgents with drones
India's NIA said they came on a tourist visa and went to a protected area in Mizoramwithout getting the mandatory permit for foreigners to enter the state
- PUBLISHED: Tue 17 Mar 2026, 4:23 PM
A Delhi court on Tuesday remanded six Ukrainians and an American to the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has accused them of bringing many drones from Europe and helping insurgent groups in India. The NIA had sought 15 days’ custody of the foreigners, who were arrested from Delhi, Lucknow and Kolkata.
The agency said they came to India on a visa and went to Mizoram state in northeast India, a protected area, without getting the mandatory restricted area permit for foreigners to enter the state. They then allegedly went to Myanmar and were training ethnic war groups there who are hostile to India. They are accused of conspiring to carry out terrorist activities against India.
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The NIA told the court it wants to unearth the route taken by the accused, investigate the source of their funding and also apprehend close associates of theirs who are still at large.
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The northeastern state has been battling the menace of drug trafficking from countries including Myanmar for several years. According to the police, more than 450 foreigners, mainly from Myanmar, have been arrested over the past few years in the state for smuggling narcotic substances.
Last week, the Mizoram government set up a committee to oversee the smooth operation of entry/exit points along the Indo-Myanmar border.
Earlier last month, the state government had closed the border trade route, citing security concerns. Traders from Mizoram and Myanmar carry essential goods through the points.
Mizoram shares an over 500-km-long border with Myanmar. Nearly 30,000 refugees from Myanmar are staying in Mizoram, according to the state government.
