Planespotters arrested near IGI Airport in New Delhi, India

Two British nationals arrested for ‘suspicious activities’ near Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi

Security agencies detained two British nationals from a five-star hotel near the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi after they allegedly indulged in “suspicious activities.”

The foreigners – Steve Martin, 55, and Stephen Hampston, 46 – were arrested after employees of Raddison Hotel in Mahipalpur, in south-west Delhi, became suspicious about their activities, police said.

The two British nationals, who were held on February 15, 2010, had checked into the hotel 4 days ago.

Y S Dadwal, Police Commissioner of Delhi, told reporters that the two foreigners had been held after the police received a tip-off that they were carrying sophisticated technical gadgets which could be used for air surveillance.

He said the police recovered high-tech binoculars from Steve Martin and Stephen Hampston and that they are being questioned by the Special Cell of the Delhi police as well as the Intelligence Bureau.

However, Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal refused to divulge more details about the two foreigners arrested.

Some media reports quoted police sources as saying that the two men were suspected to have been tracking the flights landing in and taking off from Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.

The police are also reportedly investigating into an email thought to have been sent by Stephen Hampston.

The arrest of the two British nationals comes amidst India remaining on high security alert following the attacks by terrorists in Pune in Maharashtra, in which 10 persons were killed, including two foreigners.

The Times newspaper of Britain quoted the British High Commission in India as saying that it was aware of the fact that two British nationals were arrested in New Delhi that that the High Commission was providing “consular assistance,” but added that it did not know the reason for the arrest. The British High Commission did not disclose any more details about the incident, according to The Times.

The detention of Steve Martin and Stephen Hampston comes even as another British national, Andy Pag, 35, awaits trial in Rajasthan on charge for possessing a satellite telephone without a licence.

Andy Pag, who has been described as an ‘eco-adventurer,’ was arrested on January 11, 2010, after he entered India from Pakistan, as a part of his ‘driving around the world’ in a biofuel-powered bus.

Pag told the security agencies that he was not aware that satellite telephones needed a licence in India and also denied having to do anything with terrorist activity.

The terrorists who attacked Mumbai in November 2008, in which over 160 people lost their lives, had used satellite telephones.