Two US nationals were detained at the Srinagar International Airport on Sunday after a satellite phone was recovered from their luggage during routine screening. One of them, Jeffrey Scott Prather, was travelling with a Kolkata resident, identified as Haldar Koushik, officials said.
The two have been detained for questioning, the officials said. The device, which is restricted under regulations, was flagged during security checks, prompting authorities to take the duo in for questioning. Pertinently, the use of any kind of satellite phone in India is allowed only with prior licence from the Department of Telecommunications. Anyone coming to India with a satellite phone in their baggage must declare it on arrival, officials further said.
In a separate development earlier, six Ukrainians were arrested on charges of conspiring to carry out terrorist activities linked to armed ethnic groups operating along the Myanmar border. An American national was also arrested by the NIA.
It is especially sensitive in Jammu and Kashmir where Pakistan-backed terrorists may use satellite phones to communicate. Devices such as Thuraya and Iridium phones fall under strict regulation, and unauthorised possession can lead to detention, arrest and seizure under the Indian Telegraph Act and other security rules.
According to official guidelines, travellers must obtain written permission from the Department of Telecommunications before carrying or using satellite communication devices in the country.India enforces stringent telecom restrictions due to security concerns, and both foreign nationals and Indian citizens have faced action in the past for carrying satellite communicators.
Last May, a US-based ophthalmologist was stopped at Puducherry airport after an Iridium satellite phone was found in her possession. She was prevented from boarding a flight to Hyderabad, and a police investigation was initiated. Authorities have also reported previous detentions involving foreign nationals, including a Chinese citizen and a British executive, for carrying unauthorised satellite devices at airports and hotels across the country.
To curb such violations, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on January 30, 2025, directed airlines operating flights to India to inform passengers about the ban through in-flight announcements, overseas offices and onboard publications.
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