Chinese Tourist Detained In Kashmir
A 29-year-old Chinese tourist, identified as Hu Congtai, was detained in Budgam district after travelling to Kashmir and Ladakh without mandatory permits. Officials said he had entered India on a tourist visa on November 19 and did not follow the permitted itinerary.
Travel Outside Allowed Route
The visa reportedly allowed visits to Buddhist pilgrimage sites such as Varanasi, Sarnath, Gaya and other notified locations. Instead, the visitor flew to Leh on November 20 and did not register at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office upon arrival. From Leh, he travelled to several locations in Ladakh before reaching Srinagar on December 1.
Authorities said that travel to Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh requires special permits for nationals of certain countries, including China. The absence of those permits raised concerns.
Questioning And Security Review
Security agencies questioned the visitor on Sunday. During checks, officials said they found online searches related to security deployment and constitutional issues. His movements and digital activity are being examined to determine whether the visit involved any violation beyond visa rules.
The agencies have not reported any hostile intent so far, but officials confirmed that further inquiry is ongoing. Deportation is being considered as one possible outcome after documentation checks are completed.
Legal Requirements For Sensitive Areas
Foreign nationals travelling to designated areas like certain parts of Ladakh and Kashmir must obtain a Protected Area Permit or Restricted Area Permit. Failure to do so is treated as a breach of visa conditions and can lead to detention or deportation.
