A US national, Jeffrey Scott Prather was detained at Srinagar International Airport on Sunday evening after security officials discovered a prohibited satellite communicator in his luggage during a routine check.
Who is Jeffrey Scott Prather?
According to officials, Jeffrey Scott Prather, a resident of Montana in the United States, was taken into custody when a Garmin satellite phone-banned in India without prior approval from the Department of Telecommunications-was found in his possession.
The device falls under strict regulations due to national security concerns in sensitive regions like Jammu and Kashmir, they said.
Prather, who arrived on a flight from Delhi, was booked under relevant sections of the Indian Telegraph Act for possessing unauthorized radio equipment, and was shifted to Humhama police station near the airport for questioning, police sources confirmed to News24.
Why Prather carried banned satellite phone?
Authorities emphasized that satellite phones require special permission, especially in border areas, to prevent misuse, and its being investigated why the US national carried the banned device during a visit to a sensitive area like Jammu and Kashmir.
Initial reports varied on his companion: some indicated a Kolkata resident was traveling with him, while others mentioned an Indian-origin US citizen who was briefly detained but later released after checks.
Officials said Prather has been booked under relevant sections of the law, and will be presented before a local court soon. Further investigation is underway, they added.