New Zealander arrested in Bengal for carrying sat phone

A New Zealand citizen was arrested from northern West Bengal's Bagdogra airport near here Wednesday for carrying a satellite phone.

Police said the foreigner was arrested form the airport before he could catch a flight to Delhi.

David, who had entered India via Nepal June 9 on a tourist visa, was scheduled to return to New Zealand through Delhi.

The security personnel stumbled upon the satellite phone kept in a bag during the security search.

He was later brought to the Bagdogra police station for questioning by senior police officers. The phone has been confiscated.

In February, three Europeans were arrested for carrying satellite phones in neighbouring Jalpiguri district. The arrests after police seized 22 satellite phones from a group of Europeans staying in a hotel at Chalsa in the Dooars forests.

In India, there are restrictions on using satellite phones. It is illegal to carry and use satellite phones without special permission.