New Delhi: Two British nationals were
detained here for allegedly recording the conversation between
pilots and Air Traffic Control prompting government to explore
the possibility of booking the duo under a suitable law.
The duo -- Stephen Hampston (46) and Steve Martin (55) --
staying at a posh hotel -- Radisson -- near Indira
Gandhi International Airport were detained yesterday along
with hi-tech equipment and high-powered binoculars.
Highly placed sources in the Union Home Ministry said the
investigators were shocked to find that the duo were recording
conversation between pilots and ATC, an illegal act.
The two British nationals had called up the hotel from
London before their India trip specifically demanding a room
overlooking the international airport, the sources said.
When confronted about the recording, the sources said,
the duo told interrogators that it was their hobby which is
known as "plane spotting". Some blogs on the internet also put
up conversation between the pilot and the ATC.
"We detained them because of suspicious activities,"
Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal said.
Delhi Police has been asked by Home Ministry to find out
the provisions of the Indian Telegraph Act violated by the
British nationals and asked them to book the duo, if there any
violation of the Act.
A similar incident has happened in 2001 when 14 Britons
were arrested on suspicion of espionage in Greece but they
all were released because they were genuinely plane spotters.
-PTI
