A British woman has issued a heartfelt warning to travellers after she was arrested at an airport for possessing a common gadget.
Heather, from West Yorkshire, was en route to the city of Rishikesh in northern India when she was halted by security at the Indira Gandhi International Airport and handed over to police for carrying a Garmin inReach device, she alleges.
This gadget enables users to send texts, photos, voice messages or an SOS message without mobile phone service. They typically have a battery life of around 18 hours, and are frequently used by hikers for emergency messaging, allowing their contacts to track them, checking the weather, and occasionally navigation or two-way messaging.
However, this device is illegal in India. The seasoned hiker took to Instagram to share her ordeal and caution other travellers who may be planning a trip to India against bringing equipment such as a GPS or satellite communicator into the country.
“Do not try to travel to India with a Garmin inReach or any other satellite communicator. They are illegal here,” she stated, according to The Mail.
In a video, Heather said that she even reached out to the embassy but was told that there was little they could do since she was now under the jurisdiction of Indian law. Heather also alleged that during her detention, the police denied her access to water.
Heather shared her story online, detailing how she was held by authorities due to a little-known law in India.
She explained: “At around 10.30am, I was passing through security at Delhi Airport with the intention of taking an internal flight to Rishikesh.
“I innocently placed my Garmin inReach in the tray to go through the scanner, and at that moment I was promptly pulled aside by security and told to wait.
“I waited and waited, wondering what on earth was going on; I was eventually told that the Garmin was illegal here and that they were handing me over to the police. I was eventually taken to the police station where I was questioned.”
The device fell foul of India’s wireless Telegraphy Act of 1933, which prohibits possession of certain equipment without a licence.
“At 9pm, I was finally released from the police station on the condition that I am required to return to attend court,” she continued.
“I am not the only person who has fallen victim to this law, hence I felt compelled to write this post, in hope that it will save even one of you from suffering the same fate.”
The device in question uses satellite technology – information that is clearly stated on the company’s website.
“I don’t know what the outcome will be. I guess I will just have to wait,” Heather added, uncertain of her fate.
Heather’s ordeal mirrors an incident last month when a Canadian trail runner faced difficulties with airport authorities in Goa.
They discovered a mini GPS device in her bag, which is prohibited under Indian law by nearly century-old legislation.