US terror accused in Delhi jail pleads for 'American diet', wants 'red meat, pasta, olive oil'

On July 21, a Delhi court will hear a plea filed by US national Matthew Aaron VanDyke, who is seeking permission to cook his own food in prison and to be given access to an “American-style diet”.

The request also requests that he be allowed to keep specific foods in the prison, saying that he could not eat regular prison foods. VanDyke claimed that he has been on a “hunger hunger strike” since May 6 because he cannot consume “spicy, oily and fried food”, news agency PTI reported.

National Investigation Agency (NIA) judge Prashant Sharma on Wednesday gave the jail superintendent a week to file a reply after the agency informed the court that it would not respond to the request. The court also extended VanDyke’s judicial custody until August 1.

The lawsuit, filed on “humanitarian grounds” through his lawyers Rohit Gour and Rohit Dandriyal, says VanDyke survived almost entirely on a liquid diet of soy milk for nearly 50 days. He claims to have lost about 14 kg “as he was unable to consume regular jail food due to his dietary habits,” PTI reported.

Plea requests permission to cook meals

The lawsuit demands that VanDyke be allowed to prepare his own meals on an induction cooker and basic kitchen utensils. He is also asking for permission to keep food in the prison, including lentils, chicken, red meat, pasta, olive oil, toned milk, soy milk and bottled water.

“Matthew’s family is willing to bear the entire cost of the proposed dietary arrangements and all related expenses,” the lawsuit states.

The defense cites poor health as the reason

According to the filing, VanDyke’s health had visibly deteriorated by the time he appeared in court on July 3. They claim he was “unable to stand, appeared visibly frail and had significant difficulty addressing the court”.

The TOI report further stated that prolonged malnutrition affected his health, including deterioration of his eyesight, which the defense attributed to “lack of adequate nutritional diet during incarceration”.

His lawyers also demanded an uninterrupted supply of soy milk.

Additional requirement for protection against mosquitoes

In addition to dietary relief, VanDyke sought instructions for prison authorities to provide mosquito repellent, mosquito nets or other protective measures.

The NIA arrested VanDyke on March 13 along with six Ukrainian nationals after they allegedly entered India from Myanmar through the Mizoram border. According to the agency, the group was part of a cross-border terror plot involving training militants and supplying weapons to ethnic armed groups operating in India and Myanmar.

(With input from agencies)