Arrest of American with satellite phone at Bagdogra airport raises questions

EOI, SILIGURI, JAN 21, 2023: In an incident that is bound to raise questions, an American citizen reported to be engaged in training the army in the use of drones in north Sikkim was arrested on Friday at Bagdogra while he was flying to Delhi on way back to the USA on the charge of the unauthorized possession of a satellite phone.

On Saturday afternoon, he was produced before a Siliguri court, released on bail and allowed to travel back to the USA on Sunday. He would, however, have to appear before the court in future if necessary.

Police sources said that three American citizens arrived at Bagdogra airport to catch flight for Delhi. When Central Industrial Security Force personnel who were on security duty at the airport checked their baggage, in one of them an iridium satellite phone made in China was found. Unable to produce valid documents for the satellite phone when asked for by the security personnel, the three Americans were detained and then handed over to the police. Based on the complaint of the CISF, the police later arrested one of the Americans who was in possession of the satellite phone. He was identified as Thomas Isro Sage (45).Later, the army intelligence was said to have informed that the three Americans were involved in training the army in the use of drones. An American company and an Indian company were working in collaboration in the training. 

The U.S. nationals arrived in India on January 12 to provide training on how to conduct better surveillance using drones, especially in border areas. They had been providing training in the Lachen area of north Sikkim. After the completion of the training, they arrived in Bagdogra to catch a flight to Delhi on way back to the USA. The army was said to have informed that it did not have information that the American was carrying a satellite phone. Satellite phones are used to establish contact with distant and remote areas through satellites.

The use of such phones by common people without a valid permission is completely prohibited in India. 

The American told the police during the interrogation that he was not aware that the use of satellite phones was prohibited in India. Airport sources said there were several restrictions on carrying satellite phones in aircraft in India. As per the rules of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS),barring satellite phones provided by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited(BSNL), no other satellite phones or any other similar devices were allowed to be carried in an aircraft.

To carry a satellite phone in an aircraft, one needed authorization and documents, stating the reasons for the same.

It may be mentioned that the U.S. army has carried out in recent months joint exercises with the Indian army in places close to the China border under ‘Exercise Yudh Abhyas.’ The Indian army has in recent years stepped up the use of drones for surveillance on the China border following recent incidents of violation of the Line of Actual Control by Chinese troops.