Foreign trekker arrested at Delhi airport for carrying banned GPS device | Latest News India

A Scottish hiker claimed she was arrested at Delhi airport on Thursday for allegedly carrying Garmin Inreach, a GPS and satellite messaging device banned in India.

In a video posted on Instagram, hiker Heather claimed she was pulled aside by security guards before her flight to Rishikesh.

“This morning at around 10.30 am, I cleared security at the Delhi airport with the intention of taking a domestic flight to Rishikesh. I innocently placed my Garmin Inreach in the compartment to scan it through the scanner and at that moment I was immediately pulled aside by security and told to wait,” Heather said in her post.

She said security personnel then told her that the Garmin Inreach device was banned in India and that she would be handed over to the police.

“I waited and waited, wondering what on earth was going on. Finally I was told that the Garmin was illegal here and that they would turn me over to the police. I called the embassy while waiting for the police but was told there was little they could do as they could not intervene as I was in the hands of the law in this country…” she wrote.

Heather claimed she was later taken to a police station for questioning and made to sign some documents.

“Eventually I was taken to the police station, where I was interrogated quite politely and had to sign one document after another. I did not take a “no comment” stance, stupid or not; It’s my nature to be honest and after all there was absolutely no intention on my behalf,” she wrote in her post.

“…I was finally released from the police station at 9 p.m., but I have to return for the court date,” the tourist added.

In a similar incident, a Czech national was booked in Goa last month for allegedly carrying a Garmin Edge 540 GPS device, news agency PTI reported.

The device, banned in India, was found during a check at Manohar International Airport in Mopa in North Goa. He was charged under the provisions of the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933 and was issued a notice to appear before the Goa Police.