Chin resistance groups have denied any engagement with Ukrainian and American nationals currently detained in India on allegations of conspiring to commit acts of terrorism and providing drone and military training inside Myanmar.
This was in response to a report on 17 March by the Indian Express stating that India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested three Ukrainians at Lucknow and Delhi airports and one American at Kolkata airport. A total of seven individuals are facing charges under Section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other relevant legal provisions.
“The individuals currently detained in India have absolutely no connection with us. Our member organizations also confirm that they have no links to them,” Salai Yaw Man, spokesperson for the Chin Brotherhood (CB), told Mizzima on the morning of 19 March.
He added that officials from their units in Falam and Tedim townships, where military tensions and clashes have intensified, confirmed that there is no affiliation.
Similarly, Salai Htet Ni, spokesperson for the Chin National Army (CNA), told Mizzima that they have no connection to those arrested.
“There has been no training conducted within the territories controlled by CNF/CNA and Chinland Council (CC) forces, nor is there any other connection,” he stated.
While declining to comment specifically on the allegations made by Indian newspapers, he mentioned that they, like the junta, seek international support and military technology including from India to win the war.
Salai Htet Ni further noted that such reports could harm the relationship between the accuser and the accused, and potentially affect the cross-border interactions between the people of India and Myanmar.
The newspaper, citing official sources, reported that “information was received that they crossed into Myanmar and met with ethnic groups hostile to India. Investigations also revealed that they delivered several shipments containing numerous drones from Europe to Mizoram State.”
The Patiala House Court in Delhi has extended the remand of the detainees until 27 March to allow for the collection of evidence, uncovering criminal conspiracies, identifying co-conspirators, and analysing mobile data to verify the sources of their funding.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement claiming there is no evidence that Ukrainian citizens are involved in illegal activities in India or Myanmar, asserting that the reports are based on groundless allegations and distorted information.
Since the embassy was not officially notified of the arrests and has been denied access to the detainees, the Ukrainian Ambassador to India met with officials from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs to request their release and consular access.
The detainees are accused of entering India on tourist visas, traveling from Guwahati, Assam, to Mizoram, which is a restricted area requiring special permits, and then crossing into Myanmar to provide drone and military training to groups fighting against India.
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