No UAPA charges in NIA’s first charge sheet against Ukrainians, U.S. national accused of training armed groups in Myanmar
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against seven foreign nationals for training armed groups in Myanmar, but notably excluded UAPA charges. The accused, including a U.S. citizen, are currently charged only with immigration law violations.
Why it matters
The decision to avoid stringent anti-terror laws in a high-profile case involving foreign nationals suggests a shift in legal strategy or diplomatic considerations.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has not invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against six Ukrainian citizens and one U.S. citizen, who were arrested in March for allegedly training anti-India armed groups in Myanmar, in its first charge sheet submitted in a special court on Tuesday.
Instead, the accused were only charged with violations of immigration law, though the agency told the court that a supplementary chargesheet may be filed later if needed.
The development came weeks after U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor raised the arrest of the U.S. national Matthew Aaron Van Dyke with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Delhi in May.
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