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India Drops Terror Charges Against Seven Foreign Nationals, Re-charges Under Immigration Law
India has dropped terror charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against seven foreign nationals, including one American and six Ukrainians, who were arrested in March. They will now be re-charged under the less stringent Immigration and Foreigners Act for illegal entry and visa violations. The decision has fueled speculation of diplomatic pressure from the U.S. government and concerns over their alleged activities in Myanmar.
The Indian government has decided to drop terror charges against seven foreign nationals, including one American and six Ukrainians, who were arrested in March under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Instead, they will be re-charged under the less stringent Immigration and Foreigners Act (IFA) for violations related to illegal entry and visa conditions. The seven individuals, identified as U.S. national Matthew Aaron Van Dyke and Ukrainian nationals Hurba Petro, Slyviak Taras, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Stefankiv Marian, Honcharuk Maksim, and Kaminskyi Viktor, were initially booked under Section 18 of the UAPA, which pertains to conspiracy for terrorist activities and organizing terror camps. Sources suggest that the decision to drop the terror charges was influenced by significant diplomatic pressure from the U.S. government, as Van Dyke's family had reportedly lobbied for his release. The opposition Congress party has criticized the BJP-led government for yielding to American pressure. Government sources indicated that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) opted for the IFA charges because the investigation had established violations under this law. The IFA carries a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment for illegal entry and visa violations. The NIA had alleged that the seven foreigners entered Mizoram without the necessary permits and subsequently crossed into Myanmar. There, they reportedly conducted training sessions on drone warfare and jamming technology for Myanmar's ethnic armed organizations (EROs). The agency claimed their trip was part of a larger conspiracy involving Indian insurgent groups active in the region. The NIA clarified that its probe into offenses under the UAPA is ongoing for all seven foreign nationals. Under the UAPA, the NIA must complete its investigation within 180 days, during which the accused remain in custody. Bail can be sought if the chargesheet is not filed within this period. Previous reports from The Diplomat suggested that the foreign nationals were not involved in any terror plot against India but were likely seeking to profit from selling drones to resistance groups in Myanmar. Drones are extensively used in the ongoing civil war in Myanmar by both military and resistance factions, who have been seeking alternative supply sources. It is also possible that the group was on a mission to gather intelligence on Myanmar's resistance groups on behalf of foreign agencies. The illegal entry of foreigners into India's northeastern border states and their subsequent movement into conflict zones in Myanmar has been a persistent concern for the Indian government. The Chief Minister of Mizoram recently stated that several of the approximately 2,000 foreigners who visited the border state had crossed into Myanmar to provide military training to resistance groups. The Indian government hopes that the arrest of these seven individuals will deter similar ventures in the future. The final charges they face remain to be seen. Information Source: The Diplomat Indonesia
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The Diplomat Indonesia