Family of American mercenary Matthew VanDyke rally for his release from Tihar Jail

American mercenary and PoW Matthew VanDyke is in Delhi's Tihar Jail after his arrest by the NIA in March. He had visited restricted areas in the Northeast without permission. VanDyke's family has appealed for diplomatic intervention to get him back in the US.Matthew VanDyke was arrested at Kolkata airport on March 11. (File image)The family of American mercenary and trainer of rebels Matthew VanDyke, who is in New Delhi's Tihar Jail after being arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in March, has asked the US Embassy to "intervene urgently" to "bring him back home"."The family of Matthew VanDyke seeks urgent US 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 Matthew VanDyke back home," the family of the former mercenary and prisoner of war (PoW) posted from his verified X handle with the last edit on Monday.VanDyke has been booked under Section 18 (conspiracy to commit a terrorist act) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The provision covers conspiring, attempting, aiding, advising or facilitating the commission of a terrorist act.The NIA has accused Matthew VanDyke of entering Mizoram without the mandatory Restricted Area Permit and illegally crossing into Myanmar. It alleges that VanDyke contacted ethnic armed groups there and helped train them in weapons handling and drone warfare, including drone assembly, operations and jamming technology. The agency has further alleged that the group planned to import drones from Europe and supply weapons and other military hardware to Myanmar-based groups linked to proscribed insurgent organisations in India's Northeast.(This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.) - EndsPublished By: Sushim MukulPublished On: Aug 31, 2026 11:01 IST