Security breach case: Prison authorities to reply on terror accused Van Dyke's plea for 'American diet'

New Delhi, Jul 8 (PTI) A Delhi court was informed on Wednesday that Tihar prison authorities will file a reply on a plea by US citizen Matthew Aaron Van Dyke, an alleged 'mercenary' accused of involvement in a terror conspiracy case for links to ethnic armed groups in India and Myanmar, who sought an "American diet" during his stay in prison. The court had earlier sought NIA's response on an application by Van Dyke, according to which he was apparently on a "hunger strike" for around 50 days, during which he has consumed mostly liquids such as soy milk, as he is unable "to tolerate the spicy, oily and deep-fried food ordinarily served in prison", his counsel said. Last week, advocates Rohit Dandriyal and Rohit Gour, counsel for Van Dyke, who is presently in judicial custody, said they moved the application before Special Judge Prashant Sharma seeking permission to provide him with an American-style diet on humanitarian grounds. On Wednesday, the advocates said that the NIA informed the court that it will not file a reply in the case and that the Tihar prison authorities will respond. The jail superintendent concerned then sought a week to file a reply, following which the court posted the matter for further proceedings on July 21. According to Van Dyke's advocates, he has been unable to consume regular prison meals on account of his dietary habits and inability to tolerate the spicy, oily and deep-fried food ordinarily served in prison. The advocates said that Dyke had requested the court on Wednesday for a continuous supply of soy milk. Van Dyke, a US citizen, was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on March 13, along with six Ukrainian nationals, after they allegedly infiltrated India from Myanmar via the Mizoram border before being intercepted at various domestic airports across the country. The group, suspected to have been operating as mercenaries, is being probed for a wide-ranging terror conspiracy, including assistance to ethnic armed groups in India and Myanmar, and imparting drone training to them. PTI MNR RT