Security scare in Kochi: US nationals held for flying drone near naval facilities

Kochi: Kerala Police have booked two United States nationals for allegedly operating a drone in a high-security zone in Fort Kochi, officials said on Sunday.

The accused have been identified as Katie Michelle Phelps (32) and Christopher Ross Harvey (35), both from Redding, California.

According to the FIR, the duo flew a drone in the restricted Red Zone area near Chariot Junction, close to the Children’s Park, without obtaining prior permission. The area houses sensitive establishments, including INS Dronacharya and the Coast Guard headquarters.

Police said the accused also recorded visuals in the vicinity of INS Dronacharya during the unauthorised drone operation.

The case was registered based on a report filed by the tourism police. An FIR has been lodged under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Aircraft Act, and the Drone Rules.

Officials clarified that the two individuals have not been arrested but have been issued notices as part of the ongoing investigation.

Last week, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested six Ukrainians and one US citizen for allegedly supporting ethnic war groups in Myanmar by supplying weapons, terrorist hardware and training them.

Matthew Aaron VanDyke, a US citizen and international security analyst, was detained at Kolkata airport. He is the founder of "Sons of Liberty International (SOLI)" and a self-described veteran of the "Libyan Revolution".

Six Ukrainian nationals, identified as Hurba Petro, Slyviak Taras, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Stefankiv Marian, Honcharuk Maksim, and Kaminskyi Viktor, were detained at Delhi and Lucknow airports.

They have been arrested in a case lodged under Section 18 (Terror Conspiracy) and BNS.