A British woman has issued an emotional warning to international travellers after she was arrested at an airport in India.
Heather, from West Yorkshire, was stopped at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, India.
The incident has brought attention to an often-overlooked law in India that bans satellite communication devices without proper authorisation.
Heather, an experienced hiker, was en route to Rishikesh, a popular destination in northern India, when security personnel at Delhi airport stopped her during routine checks.
She was found in possession of a Garmin inReach device which allows users to send texts, SOS messages, and track locations without mobile service, was flagged as illegal under Indian law.
Heather was handed over to the police, who detained her for hours and reportedly denied her access to water.
Despite reaching out to the British embassy, she was informed that her case was now under the jurisdiction of Indian law enforcement.
India’s Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1933 prohibits the possession of wireless telegraphy equipment, such as satellite communicators, without a valid license.
These rules are designed to regulate and control communication technologies within the country’s borders, but the law is not widely known among tourists.
“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,” Heather explained on Instagram.
“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.”
Heather was released from police custody after 10 hours on the condition that she would return to attend court proceedings.
Heather took to social media to share her experience, urging travellers not to bring GPS or satellite communication devices into India.
“Do not try to travel to India with a Garmin inReach or any other satellite communicator. They are illegal here,” she warned in a heartfelt post.
Heather also mentioned that she is not the first person to face legal trouble over such devices in India. Recently a Canadian trail runner was detained at an airport in Goa for carrying a mini GPS device.
To avoid similar situations, travellers heading to India should be aware of restrictions on certain technologies, especially satellite communication devices.
Research the regulations on electronic devices in your destination country before travelling, and avoid carrying equipment such as satellite communicators, which may be subject to licensing requirements.
Heather’s legal situation remains unresolved, with her awaiting further court proceedings. “I don’t know what the outcome will be. I guess I will just have to wait,” she said.