British nationals face arrest risks in India due to strict regulations on satellite phones and electronic equipment, authorities have warned.
Travellers have been detained for bringing satellite phones and satellite-enabled navigation devices into the country without obtaining the required licences and permissions.
Under Indian law, it is illegal to possess or operate satellite phones without a proper licence, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) warned.
Those planning to bring such devices must contact the Indian Department of Telecommunication to request the necessary permissions before travel.
The High Commission of India should be contacted for guidance
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Additional electronic equipment also falls under strict rules when entering India. The High Commission of India should be contacted for guidance on these requirements.
“You may also need prior permission from the Indian authorities to bring equipment like listening or recording devices, radio transmitters, powerful cameras or binoculars into India,” said the FCDO.
The government body has also issued a warning against all but essential travel to India’s Manipur state, including its capital city Imphal, following an escalation of ethnic violence in September 2024.
The advisory comes amid heightened security concerns in the northeastern state, where violent clashes have intensified in recent weeks.
The updated guidance affects the entire state of Manipur, marking it as one of several regions in India where the FCDO currently maintains specific travel restrictions.
This development represents the most significant security advisory for British travellers to India since the ethnic clashes first erupted in 2023.
The FCDO’s warning places Manipur alongside other restricted areas in India, though with a different risk level than regions such as the India-Pakistan border area, where all travel is advised against.
Curfews and restrictions remain in place across parts of Manipur, following violent ethnic clashes that first broke out in 2023.
Travellers have been detained for bringing satellite phones into the country
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The situation has shown no signs of improvement, with intermittent incidents continuing throughout the region.
September 2024 has seen a marked escalation in the violence, prompting the latest FCDO advisory update.
The body cautioned: “Terrorist attacks have mainly targeted Indian government interests. Security has been strengthened, including at major hotels and transport hubs.
“However, terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals.”
