Tourism Deptt to remain firm on action against paragliding trespass by US nationals currently under police custody

ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK: The Department of Tourism has resolved to take a firm stand on the arrest of two US nationals who were taken into custody by Sikkim Police at Uttarey on the border with Nepal in West Sikkim on 15 March for having entered into the country without any relevant papers. Sikkim shares a 103 km long border with Nepal.
The two US nationals, Eric Reed [45] and Brad Sanders [35], both of whom are professional para-gliders of repute, had paraglided into Sikkim from Nepal on 14 March and were arrested by the police when they could not provide any relevant documents like Inner Line Permits allowing them to be in Sikkim. Because they came over from the West Sikkim border, they have obviously not been stamped into India either.

What has raised serious concern with the Tourism Department is that the Sikkim Paragliding and Adventure Association, did not take any permission from any institution before advising the two foreigners to fly from Nepal into Sikkim. In fact, representatives of the association, had, in a “suspicious manner”, come to the Rangpo check-post on the evening of 16 March, a day after the duo were arrested, and got Inner Line Permits issued for them to enter Sikkim from Rangpo via Kakaribittha, Nepal.
“The US nationals have gone above the law and even if the tour operators had ‘misguided’ them, as specialist adventurists, they should know the law. What has happened is that they have taken the prescribed guidelines very lightly which will not be tolerated by the department as we have to set an example for the rest,” stated the Tourism Secretary, SBS Bhaduria, when NOW! contacted him with regard to the case today.
The Secretary, while stressing that adventure sports like paragliding were now going to be a highlight of the tourism industry in Sikkim and a big future prospect, exhorted that, such instances of “carelessness” should not be allowed.
“We have to take serious action as a precautionary measure. The two foreign nationals, who are still in Uttarey Police Station, will be produced before the CJM, Namchi, tomorrow who will decide what has to be done next. The US Embassy has not contacted us or any other office in the state thus far,” heinformed.
It may also be added that, the two foreign nationals came in only with cameras and paragliding gear and are not being projected as “spies”. It is also suggested that the two US nationals had come to Sikkim on the invitation of the association to participate in the closing day ceremonies of the International Rhododendron Festival being held at Barsey in West Sikkim.
The department officials inform that the case will not be “taken lightly” since all entry points into the state has been clearly defined. It may also be informed that the general secretary of the Sikkim Paragliding and Adventure Association, Raju Rai, has also been taken into police custody and another member, Arjun Rai, is being questioned by the West Sikkim police.
“We are not doubting their intentions, but then there are certain rules that need to be followed. We will also be setting up an internal enquiry as to how they got the managed to secure ILPs after their arrest. At present, what I can say is that none of the parties are innocent and that the law will take its course,” the Tourism Secretary explained.
Lastly, he also stated that keeping in view the latest development, the department will be convening meetings with all travel and adventure tour operators and providing them with details of governing tourist arrivals once again. The department also plans to issue an advisory of Do’s and Don’ts to them, it is learnt.