New Delhi . American citizen Matthew VanDyke, who reached the United States after being in jail in India for almost six months, has made serious allegations regarding his arrest. He has claimed that the detention of him and several Ukrainian citizens in India was part of a larger strategy related to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. VanDyke has accused Russia of being behind this action. He has also said that in the coming six months he will make many shocking revelations related to this entire matter.
Responding on social media, VanDyke said that he and many Ukrainian citizens were kept in jail in India for almost six months. According to him, this development was linked to Russia's action against Ukraine. However, he has not made public any concrete evidence to support his allegations. These allegations made by him have not even been independently confirmed.
Matthew VanDyke has been allowed to visit America from India for a limited period. This permission has been given with certain conditions. He will have to return to India and cooperate in the investigation. His permission to stay in India has been extended till 24 February. Earlier he was allowed to go to America only for one month. On the expiry of that period he also came back for hearing in the Delhi court.
Six Ukrainian citizens were also arrested along with VanDyke in this case. All of them were allowed to go to their country with conditions. He will have to return to India to join the investigation. Initially, a case was registered against the accused under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act i.e. UAPA. However, later the National Investigation Agency removed the section related to this law from its charge sheet.
The charge sheet of the investigating agency has now included charges against VanDyke under laws related to immigration and foreign nationals. It is alleged that he and the Ukrainian nationals accompanying him had entered Myanmar without necessary permission. They are accused of providing weapons training to ethnic armed and rebel organizations there.
VanDyke has also been accused of supplying drones and helping Ukrainian nationals in a case related to an alleged terror plot in India. An important aspect of the investigation is how the accused reached restricted areas in India and from there entered Myanmar without the necessary permits. The legal process is ongoing on these allegations. VanDyke's Russia-related allegations are his personal claims separate from this investigation.
Matthew VanDyke is a resident of Maryland, America. She earned her bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. After this he obtained a master's degree in security studies from Georgetown University. In his early career he used to make documentary films. Later he also worked as a war correspondent.
VanDyke had traveled through several areas of Africa and West Asia by motorcycle. He produced documentaries in Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan. It is also claimed that he took part in fighting with rebels during the revolt against Muammar Gaddafi in Libya. During this conflict, he was also arrested in Libya, after which he came into limelight at the international level.
In India, he was arrested at Kolkata Airport. It is alleged that after coming to India on a tourist visa, he reached restricted areas of Mizoram and then entered Myanmar without necessary permission. Now after reaching America, his new statements have once again brought this matter into discussion. However, it is important to understand the difference between his allegations and the allegations made by the investigating agency. Further legal action in the matter and facts emerging after his return in the investigation will be monitored.