SRINAGAR: Two United States nationals, briefly detained at Srinagar airport after a satellite phone was allegedly recovered during routine security checks, were released on Sunday evening after police said nothing incriminating was found against them.
Divisional Officer Humhama Police post (chowki ) Aadil Tak told TNIE that the two US nationals identified as Jeffrey Scott Prather, a resident of Montana USA, and Haldar Koushik, who is from Kolkata but settled in the US, were set free in the evening.
“Nothing was found against them,” he said.
Asked about recovery of the satellite phone, the police officer said, “It was a normal GPS device and not a satellite phone”.
Tak said no case has been registered.
Earlier, in the day, the two US nationals, who were scheduled to travel to Delhi on Air India flight, were detained after recovery of an alleged satellite phone with a GPS from luggage during the routine security checking.
The duo were immediately deboarded and after questioning handed over to police for investigation.
“The duo’s travel history and their purpose of visit to Kashmir was probed by police,” sources said.
The use of satellite phone by a civilian in J&K is strictly banned and it is an offence and a person can be charged for it.