Managed to get past three international airports.
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: Authorities in Bhubaneswar in Odisha have concluded that the bullets American citizen William Hurtubise was caught with in India did, in fact, originate in the US, and were not purchased locally, as initial reports had speculated.
Hurtubise was arrested on September 18, when he was caught with eight .22-caliber bullets in his travel bag and subsequently arrested. Hurtubise has maintained throughout that he had no criminal intent for having the bullets, and simply forgot to check his bag before leaving home in Houston.
Incredibly, Hurtubise not only made it onto a plane in Houston with the bullets, but also a connecting flight in Amsterdam, and finally went through New Delhi airport with the live ammunition in his luggage. It was only when he attempted to board a private helicopter at Biju Patnaik Airport, headed for Paradip, that he was caught and taken into police custody.
Hurtubise agreed to a conditional bail plea on October 9, and was allowed to leave the Jharpara jail on October 21, but only under the provision that he does not leave Bhubaneswar, the capital of the east Indian state of Odisha. Hurtubise, a 27 year-old engineer, was originally there on business.
Numerous internet donation drives have popped up in the months following Hurtubise’s arrest, with one estimating the costs needed to argue his case and win his freedom at roughly $75,000. He has no known criminal record and is described as a genial, well-to-do young man who simply got caught in an unfortunate mix-up.
Indian authorities, at this point, are simply trying to confirm that Hurtubise had no motive behind bringing the eight bullets with him and, more importantly, how he was able to go through three airports and not get caught with them. Needless to say, the security ramifications of someone being able to do that are alarming.
There is no word yet on when Hurtubise is due back in court, nor when he may finally be able to go back home to Houston.
To contact the author, email to deepakchitnis@americanbazaaronline.com