US National, Kolkata Man Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Satellite Phone

A US national and a man from Kolkata were detained at Srinagar International Airport on Sunday after airport authorities recovered a satellite phone from their luggage during routine screening, according to sources. The two individuals have been identified as Jeffrey Scott Prather, an American citizen, and Haldar Koushik, a resident of Kolkata.

Satellite Phone Found During Routine Screening At Srinagar Airport

Sources said the duo was stopped after security personnel detected a satellite communication device in their baggage. The two were questioned by airport security officials before being handed over to the police for further investigation.

Police later confirmed that one of the two, the US national in whose bag the satellite phone was found, had been arrested. Authorities are continuing to question both men as part of the probe.

The incident has drawn attention because Srinagar, located in the sensitive Jammu and Kashmir region, remains under heightened surveillance due to security concerns. Officials have long flagged the risk of Pakistan-backed terrorists using satellite phones to communicate, making enforcement of telecom restrictions especially strict in the Union Territory.

Satellite Phones Banned In India Without Prior Government Approval

In India, carrying or using any kind of satellite phone is not permitted without prior written approval from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). Travellers entering the country with such devices are required to declare them on arrival and must possess the necessary licence or written permission.

Devices such as Thuraya and Iridium satellite phones are subject to strict regulation, and unauthorised possession can trigger detention, arrest, and seizure under the Indian Telegraph Act and other security-related rules.

According to official guidelines, travellers must obtain written permission from the Department of Telecommunications before carrying or using satellite communication devices in the country.

India maintains tight restrictions on satellite communication equipment because of national security concerns, and enforcement applies equally to both foreign nationals and Indian citizens.

Jammu And Kashmir Remains Highly Sensitive For Security Agencies

The recovery of a satellite phone at Srinagar airport is considered particularly serious because of the security environment in Jammu and Kashmir. Security agencies have repeatedly warned that such devices can be misused in conflict-prone regions where conventional telecom networks are monitored or disrupted.

Given the history of militancy in the Valley and the concern over cross-border terror activity, possession of unapproved satellite communication devices often results in immediate detention and deeper scrutiny by police and intelligence agencies.

Previous Cases Prompted Wider Crackdown By Authorities

This is not the first time authorities in India have acted against travellers carrying unauthorised satellite devices.

Last May, a US-based ophthalmologist was stopped at Puducherry airport after an Iridium satellite phone was found in her possession. She was prevented from boarding a flight to Hyderabad, and a police investigation was launched.

Authorities have also reported earlier detentions involving foreign nationals, including a Chinese citizen and a British executive, for carrying unauthorised satellite devices at airports and hotels in different parts of the country.

To reduce such incidents, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in January last year directed airlines operating flights to India to warn passengers about the ban through in-flight announcements, overseas offices and onboard publications.

Foreign governments have also highlighted India's strict rules. Travel advisories issued by the US and the UK caution their citizens that bringing satellite phones or similar GPS-linked communication devices into India without authorisation could lead to confiscation, arrest, or fines that can go up to ₹2 crore.