A 29-year-old Chinese citizen, Hu Congtai, has come under the scanner of security agencies after he was detained in Srinagar for allegedly violating visa rules and travelling through several sensitive areas of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh without mandatory permissions. His extensive movement across restricted zones has raised concerns, prompting authorities to send his phone for forensic examination.
According to officials, Hu had travelled through Leh, Zanskar and multiple parts of the Kashmir Valley, including Harwan, Hazratbal, Dal Lake, Awantipora and Shankaracharya Hill. Some of these locations lie close to strategically important installations, making his unexplained interest in them a matter of serious scrutiny.
Investigators found that he stayed in homestays and guesthouses without submitting the required “C-Forms,” failed to register himself at Leh airport upon arrival, and used an Indian SIM card purchased locally — all considered violations of immigration protocols. Preliminary checks of his device reportedly showed online searches related to Central Reserve Police Force deployments and Article 370, further deepening the suspicion.
Hu, however, has told police that he is a travel enthusiast and was unaware of India’s restrictions on foreign nationals visiting certain areas. His passport indicates prior travel to countries such as the US, Brazil, New Zealand, Fiji and Hong Kong, suggesting he is a frequent traveller.
Authorities are now examining his digital footprint and communications to determine whether he collected or shared sensitive information during his visit. The probe will also look into whether he received any assistance from local contacts in facilitating his movement across prohibited locations.
Further action will depend on the findings of the forensic analysis and the ongoing investigation into possible security lapses connected with his travel.