What kind of GPS device is this? – The first post

On Thursday, a tourist from Scotland was detained at the Delhi airport for having a GPS device banned in India.

On Instagram, Heather explained her experience and advised fellow travelers not to bring satellite communicators or devices like the Garmin inReach to India because “they’re illegal here.”

Here’s everything we know about it.

What happened

Heather was on her way to Rishikesh when security at the Indira Gandhi International Airport turned her over to authorities for having a Garmin inReach GPS.

Taking to Instagram, Heather explained: “At around 10:30am I was going through security at the Delhi airport with the intention of boarding a domestic flight to Rishikesh. I innocently placed my Garmin inReach in the tray to go through the scanner, at which point security immediately pulled me aside and told me to wait.”

She said that after a long wait, she was told that Garmin was banned in India and that they would “hand me over to the police”.

“In the end, I was taken to the police station, where I was interrogated in a rather friendly manner and forced to sign document after document. I didn’t take a ‘no comment’ stance, foolishly or not, it’s my nature to be honest and at the end of the day, there was absolutely no intent on my behalf,” she wrote.

Heather claimed she was released from police custody at around 9pm after being held for several hours, but was told she would have to appear in court.

“I am not the only person who has become a victim of this law. That’s why I felt the need to write this post,” she added, recalling the recent case involving a Canadian runner arrested in India in December for wearing a similar device.

She said she even called the embassy, ​​but they told her there was little they could do because she was now in the hands of Indian law.

Heather also said the police refused to give her water while she was being held.

The Scottish tourist said she was stunned by the detention, but she hoped sharing her experience would save others from a similar fate.

“I don’t know what the result will be. I guess I’ll just have to wait,” she said.

What is Garmin inReach?

The Garmin inReach is a popular GPS satellite messaging device in Switzerland that is often used by hikers and mountaineers.

The company’s website lists India as one of 14 countries that may “regulate or prohibit the use or possession of satellite communications” or otherwise embargoed by the US.

Other countries where the device is banned are Afghanistan, Ukrainian Crimea, Cuba, Georgia, Iran, North Korea, Myanmar, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Vietnam, China and Russia.

Direct satellite communication functions are becoming more and more common in modern mobile phones.

The latest versions of Apple
iPhone can use a satellite connection.

With satellite communications, iPhone users can stay in touch with emergency contacts, share their location, and send messages to emergency services when they’re disconnected from the network and without cellular or Wi-Fi.

Why is it banned in India?

The ban on satellite communication came with the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885 and the Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1933.

These older rules were strengthened during
The 2008 Mumbai terror attacksin which the terrorist group used satellite communications to plan bombings and shootings that killed about 200 people, according to Global rescueglobal medical and safety evacuation service.

India prohibits the illegal use of satellite communication technologies such as telephones and other communication devices to prevent security threats and illegal surveillance, according to Times Now.

These devices can be used for potentially dangerous or illegal activities, such as smuggling, espionage, or bypassing communication restrictions in sensitive locations.

Are there similar cases?

A woman from Canada was detained at the Goa Dabolim International Airport on December 6.

Tina Lewis drove to Kochi with a Garmin GPS device.

She was questioned by security after she placed the device in a tray for scanning and was led away from the queue by armed guards.

The 51-year-old woman was detained for four hours and questioned about the device, missing her trip. Although she was only fined $11, she had to pay more than $2,000 in bail and court costs.

In another similar incident, a Czech national was detained in Goa on December 9 for allegedly carrying a Garmin Edge 540 GPS device, according to PTI.

The banned device was discovered at the Manohar International Airport in Mopa, North Goa during a screening.

Martin Polesny was charged and served with a notice to appear before the Goa police under the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933.

For the same reason, another American was detained at the Chennai airport a month earlier.

With the help of agencies