Manipur Deputy CM raises alarm over arrest of foreign nationals allegedly linked to armed groups

Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho on March 18 described the arrest of seven foreign nationals for allegedly training ethnic armed groups as “a very serious matter” and urged the state government to take urgent and proactive steps to address the situation.

Speaking to reporters, Dikho said, “This is one of the most dangerous situations for our state. Our government has to take very serious steps on this.” He stressed the need for the state’s security apparatus to act decisively to safeguard people and prevent the escalation of violence.

Dikho also flagged concerns related to the ongoing census revision, stating, “During the census revision, the genuine people should be taken, and the bogus should be removed,” highlighting the importance of accurate population records.

Meanwhile, a Delhi court on March 18 remanded the seven foreigners to 11 days of National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody. 

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a US national, Matthew Aaron VanDyke, along with six Ukrainian citizens. 

The arrests were carried out across three airports — Kolkata, where VanDyke was apprehended, and Lucknow and Delhi, where three Ukrainian nationals were arrested at each location.

The Ukrainian nationals were identified as: Petro Hurba, Taras Slyviak, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Marian Stefankiv, Maksim Honcharuk, and Viktor Kaminskyi. 

The hearing was conducted by Additional Sessions Judge Prshant Sharma in a closed courtroom.

The NIA has alleged that the foreigners, who initially entered India on visas, illegally travelled to Mizoram, a protected area, before crossing into Myanmar, where they trained ethnic armed groups linked to insurgent organisations in India. 

It is also alleged that the group imported a large consignment of drones from Europe to aid these operations.

The arrests have raised serious security concerns in Manipur, where insurgency and ethnic tensions have long been sensitive issues. 

Authorities are expected to intensify investigations and strengthen preventive measures to ensure the safety of the state’s residents.