A British woman has issued an emotional warning to travellers after being arrested and detained at a Delhi airport for carrying a common GPS device, which are bizarrely banned in India.
Heather, a qualified mountain leader based in West Yorkshire, was heading to the northern city of Rishikesh when security at the Indira Gandhi International Airport handed her over to the police for carrying a Garmin inReach device.
The experienced hiker shared her story on Instagram, warning other travellers who may be planning a trip to India not to bring 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,’ she said in her post, adding: ‘They are illegal here.’
In the clip, Heather said that she even contacted the embassy but was told there was little they could do since she was now in the hands of the law in India.
Heather also claimed that during her detention, the police denied her access to water.
In a detailed caption, Heather wrote: ‘At around 10.30 am, 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.’
Heather took to Instagram to issue a warning to travellers after she was arrested and detained for carrying a GPS device in India
The experienced hiker claimed that during her detention, the police denied her access to water
According to the Indian wireless Telegraphy Act of 1933, possession of wireless telegraphy equipment without a proper license is prohibited.’
The ban encompasses satellite technology, included in the Garmin inReach Mini device, described on the company’s site as a ‘go-to connection for maintaining off-the-grid contact.
Heather claimed that after being made to wait for a long time, she was told that the Garmin was illegal in India ‘and that they were handing me over to the police.’
‘I was eventually taken to the police station where I was questioned, in a fairly friendly manner, and made to sign document after document.
‘I didn’t take the ‘no comment’ stance, foolishly or not, it is my nature to be honest, and after all, there was absolutely no intent on my behalf,’ she added.
After spending several hours in police custody, Heather said she was released at around 9pm but was told she would have to return for a court appearance.
She added, ‘I am not the only person who has fallen victim to this law. Hence, I felt compelled to write this post.’
Heather also referenced a recent case involving a Canadian runner arrested in India in December for carrying a similar device.
Though she claimed the detention overwhelmed her, she hoped sharing her story would help others avoid a similar fate.
Heather was heading to the northern city of Rishikesh when security at the Indira Gandhi International Airport handed her over to the police for carrying a Garmin inReach device (pictured)
‘I don’t know what the outcome will be,’ she said, adding, ‘I guess I will just have to wait.’
It comes after a Canadian trail runner enjoying a months-long trip to India found herself in trouble with airport authorities in Goa after they detected an illegal item in her bag – a mini GPS device, forbidden under Indian law by legislation that’s nearly a century old.
Tina Lewis, who now lives in Colorado, had already been through multiple other Indian airports without problem when she caught the attention of security in Goa.
‘I brought my Garmin inReach device as I do for many of my international trips for camping, possible mountain adventures, and to use when there is no cell reception for safety as a solo female traveler,’ Lewis wrote on Instagram two weeks ago.
‘To check in with family/friends. I was detained at airport security (CISF) in Goa and escorted to the Goan police outpost to be investigated. I was not aware a GPS device was illegal. It is a 1933 (!!!) law.
The description of the device online is followed by a prominent message: ‘NOTICE: Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit the use of satellite communications devices.
It is the responsibility of the user to know and follow all applicable laws in the jurisdictions where the device is intended to be used.’
Lewis wrote that, after ‘hours of investigation, she was bailed out by a friend’s ‘lawyer connection at midnight.’
After ‘days of court,’ her case ‘was finally cleared.’