Slovak national detained: 58-year-old Slovak arrested attempting to cross Mizoram-Myanmar border; police probe ongoing amid concerns over foreign nationals

Aizawl: Mizoram Police have arrested a 58-year-old Slovak for reportedly trying to cross the Mizoram-Myanmar border without valid travel documents, officials of Siaha Police Station said on Wednesday.The police said the Slovak (name withheld at present) is being interrogated by state and central intelligence agencies and details are expected soon.They said he was nabbed and detained by the Assam Rifles personnel guarding the Myanmar border at Laki village, approximately 60 to 75 kilometres from Siaha, the district headquarters, on Tuesday while trying to cross the international border and was brought to Siaha town. He reportedly claimed that he was planning to participate in a water festival in Myanmar.The arrest comes close on the heels of the arrest of 6 Ukrainians and one American by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) at 3 different airports on March 13. The 7 foreigners were accused by the NIA of entering Mizoram without mandatory Protected Area Permit (PAP) and crossing into Myanmar, allegedly training ethnic armed groups in drone warfare, and smuggling large consignments of European drones into the conflict zone.