Chinese National Detained in Kashmir for Visa Violation
Unusual online activity intercepted by Army triggers security probe in Valley
- Chinese tourist detained after entering Ladakh and J&K without visa permission
- Army intercepted unusual online chatter, prompting investigation
- Phone history shows searches on CRPF deployment and Article 370
- Officials say he violated visa rules; deportation likely
GG News Bureau
Jammu, 8th Dec: Security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir have detained a 29-year-old Chinese national after the Army intercepted unusual chatter on the Internet, prompting a closer look at his movements in the region, officials said on Sunday.
The individual, identified as Hu Congtai, arrived in Delhi on November 19 on a tourist visa restricting his travel to Buddhist religious sites in Varanasi, Agra, Delhi, Jaipur, Sarnath, Gaya and Kushinagar. However, on November 20, he boarded a flight to Leh without obtaining the required clearance or registering at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) counter at Leh airport.
Officials said Hu leveraged his resemblance to locals to move freely in Ladakh, touring the Zanskar region for three days and visiting several places of significance. On December 1, he flew to Srinagar without authorisation.
A search of his mobile phone indicated he had been browsing information related to CRPF deployment in the Kashmir Valley. He had also searched topics related to Article 370, which was abrogated in August 2019. Security officials said multiple agencies are currently questioning him.
Investigators also found that Hu purchased an Indian SIM card from the open market and stayed in an unregistered guest house in Srinagar. He visited a Buddhist site in Harwan — the location of an encounter last year that resulted in the killing of a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist — and the Awantipur ruins in South Kashmir, situated near the Army’s Victor Force headquarters.
During his time in Srinagar, Hu toured several prominent locations including Shankaracharya Hills, Hazratbal and the Mughal Gardens along Dal Lake.
According to officials, his passport shows travel history to the US, New Zealand, Brazil, Fiji and Hong Kong. He has claimed he is a traveller and a Physics graduate from Boston University.
Authorities said Hu has clearly violated the terms of his visa and may face deportation. Further investigations are underway to determine the intent behind his movements and online activity.
