Chinese National Detained for Unauthorized Visits to J-K and Ladakh

Srinagar, December 7, 2025 – A Chinese national has been detained by security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) for allegedly entering the region, including Ladakh, without proper authorization. The individual, identified as 29-year-old Hu Congtai, is currently being questioned about potential violations of visa regulations and suspicious activities in sensitive areas.

According to officials, Hu Congtai arrived in Delhi on November 19, 2025, holding a tourist visa. This visa permitted him to visit specific Buddhist religious sites in Varanasi, Agra, New Delhi, Jaipur, Sarnath, Gaya, and Kushinagar. However, security agencies became suspicious after intercepting unusual internet activity, which led to increased surveillance and, ultimately, Hu's detention.

Leveraging his resemblance to local residents, Hu allegedly boarded a flight to Leh on November 20 without registering at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) counter at Leh airport, officials stated. Subsequently, he traveled to the Zanskar region, where he stayed for three days, visiting monasteries and other significant locations. While in Zanskar, he stayed at Dolma Homestay. Police contacted Hu and instructed him to leave the area because his visa was not valid for Ladakh. He departed Zanskar around November 29.

Hu then moved to Srinagar on December 1, where he reportedly resided in an unregistered guest house. While in Srinagar, he visited several locations, including the Shankaracharya hills, the Hazratbal shrine, the Mughal Gardens along Dal Lake, and a Buddhist religious site in Harwan, where a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist was killed last year. He also visited the Awantipur ruins in South Kashmir, near the Victor Force headquarters of the army.

Authorities are scrutinizing Hu's activities and motives for traveling to these restricted areas. A search of his phone history revealed searches related to CRPF deployments and Article 370 of the Constitution, which was abrogated in August 2019, ending the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. He also obtained an Indian SIM card from the open market.

Hu's background indicates that he graduated in Physics from Boston University.

The incident has prompted a thorough investigation by multiple agencies to determine the full extent of Hu's activities and potential security implications. The investigation is ongoing.