New Delhi: The family of US national Matthew Van Dyke has appealed to the American government to intervene diplomatically in his case as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) gets ready to question him at Delhi’s Tihar Jail in an alleged terrorism conspiracy.
A Delhi court on Monday allowed the agency to interrogate Van Dyke and Ukrainian national Kaminskyi Viktor inside the prison on September 2 and 3. Both are in judicial custody and face allegations of conspiring with ethnic armed organisations operating in India and neighbouring Myanmar.
Health Concerns In Jail
Van Dyke’s relatives and lawyers have alleged that his health has deteriorated during his detention. According to his family, he has sustained a leg injury, developed worsening eyesight and lost considerable strength. They have also claimed that he was denied prescribed medicines on some occasions and faced restrictions on speaking to relatives in the US.
“His mother who is over 80, was only allowed a 5-minute emergency call with him months ago! However, the Delhi Court denied both application requests on June 1st alleging foreign government communications. Matthew was too weak to stand or walk during a court appearance, and utilizes a wheelchair to meet with his attorneys,” Sons of Liberty International, the organisation founded by Van Dyke, said in a statement.
The organisation added in a post on X: “The family of @Matt_VanDyke seeks urgent U.S. diplomatic intervention as Matthew VanDyke is presently still denied basic detainee rights, and is being kept in solitary confinement at Tihar Jail 8/9 in Delhi, India. It is time to bring #MatthewVanDyke back home!”
“This is a humanitarian emergency for our family,” Van Dyke’s mother, Sharon Van Dyke, said. “Matthew has spent his life documenting human suffering and supporting people in crisis. We are pleading for his safe return home.”
Case Against Van Dyke
The NIA arrested Van Dyke on March 13 with six Ukrainian nationals. The agency alleges that the group crossed into India illegally from Myanmar through Mizoram.
The Ukrainians were identified as Kaminskyi, Hurba Petro, Slyviak Taras, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Stefankiv Marian and Honcharuk Maksim.
The agency has accused the group of acting as mercenaries, assisting ethnic armed organisations in India and Myanmar, and providing them with drone warfare training. A court granted the NIA 11 days of custody on March 16. The accused have been booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Earlier Diplomatic Efforts
Van Dyke’s lawyers, Rohit Dandriyal and Rohit Gour, sought permission for his treatment at a private hospital and improved communication with his family. The family says the Delhi court rejected both applications on June 1, citing concerns about communication with a foreign government, as reported by NDTV.
It further claimed that US Ambassador Sergio Gor discussed the matter with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a Delhi visit from May 24 to 26.
Van Dyke became known after joining rebel forces in Libya’s 2011 civil war and being imprisoned. He later founded Sons of Liberty International, which says it offers military training and strategic advice to armed groups in conflict zones.