US mercenary arrested in India behind Christian nation 'plot' Hasina warned about?
India Today
Two years ago, former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina warned of an alleged plot by a 'white man' to establish a Christian state. In 2025, the Mizoram CM said Ukraine war veterans were using the state to enter Myanmar. The arrest of 7 foreign nationals by the NIA has prompted experts to suggest that the incidents might be connected.
Months before she was ousted amid a violent student-led uprising in 2024, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina warned of an alleged plot by a "white man" to carve out a "Christian state" from parts of Bangladesh and Myanmar. Not much attention was paid to it then. Two years down the line, the arrest of an American mercenary and six Ukrainian nationals by the NIA over illegal activities in the northeast region has prompted experts to suggest that the incidents might be connected.
In a hush-hush operation last week, the NIA arrested the foreign nationals, including American mercenary Matthew VanDyke, a known name in conflict zones across the world, from three airports. The NIA said the foreign nationals, who came to India on tourist visas, entered Mizoram illegally before crossing over to restive Myanmar. A Protected Area Permit (PAP) is required for foreigners to enter Mizoram.
In Myanmar, the NIA said, they provided arms training to Ethnic Armed Groups or EAGs. These EAGs are known to support insurgent outfits operating in India's northeast. Moreover, the NIA has found that the accused brought a huge consignment of drones from Europe and delivered them to the EAGs and groups in Mizoram. The accused have sent to 11-day NIA custody.
The development has reignited rumours that the US and other foreign powers were providing support to anti-junta forces in Myanmar. Myanmar descended into civil war after the junta (military) seized power in a 2021 coup. Geopolitical expert Dr Brahma Chellaney underlined that the "US proxy war" had reached India's northeast.
The big fish in the NIA's net is American citizen VanDyke, who has previously been part of armed conflicts in Libya and Syria -- two countries where their leaders were toppled. He has also been a PoW (prisoner-of-war) after being arrested by the Muammar Gaddafi regime in Libya in 2011.
The arrest of VanDyke in India, believed to be part of America's deep state, has stirred a hornet's nest. Notably, VanDyke is the founder of Sons of Liberty International (SOLI), a non-profit security firm that provides training to groups fighting authoritarian regimes.
Pradyut Bordoloi was a dyed-in-the-wool Congressi who vowed to never leave the party. The physical attack on him in 2025, and the Congress embracing "communal elements" pushed the Lok Sabha MP into joining the BJP. Bordoloi's exit from the Congress after three decades is significant for the party and Assam's politics.
Rajya Sabha polls expose cracks in Congress discipline, with absenteeism and cross-voting costing key seats. Leadership struggles to rein in dissent, raising urgent questions about internal control and state-level coordination.
A man brought a foetus to the Madhya Pradesh High Court seeking sympathy for his family's suffering. The petition was dismissed as unsubstantiated, with the court warning against theatrical gestures in judicial proceedings.
When the victim realised what had transpired for 48 hours, he lodged an FIR with the Cyber Crime Police in Greater Noida. Cyber crime officials said that they will investigate the matter further.
When the fire erupted, a few people jumped from the building to save themselves. However, many were trapped after the fire engulfed the only exit route of the building.
Notorious gangster Kundan Thakur, who openly threatened police in a call, was killed in an encounter in Bihar's Motihari that also left a constable and another criminal dead.
Suspicious movements inside the sack prompted the staff to open it. What they found shocked everyone in the office – an elderly man struggling to breathe.
Air travel rules are set for a shake-up as the government cracks down on hidden charges and pushes airlines to prioritise passengers. What changes for your next flight and what airlines must now do.
A domestic dispute turns deadly on Mumbai's lifeline, sparking a dramatic CCTV-led chase across cities. How police tracked the accused within hours and what led to the shocking crime unfolds inside.
Her health deteriorated after she had her tooth extracted at a private clinic in Hariharganj town. She was rushed to the Community Health Center. However, doctors could not save her.
The government told the Bombay High Court that the situation remains dynamic due to international developments, and emphasised that it may not be appropriate to deliberate such matters within court proceedings. He assured the bench that the government is taking all necessary remedial measures to ensure that global disruptions do not adversely impact domestic supply of LPG.
Rahul, a school operator from Delhi, had been struggling with mental stress and health problems. The police confirmed no suicide note was found, and the bodies were sent for post-mortem before being handed to the family.