A 29-year-old Chinese national, Hu Congtai, is being questioned by police and intelligence agencies in Kashmir after visiting the region and Ladakh without the required permissions. Hu's unauthorized entry and travel, a violation of Indian visa regulations, prompted an investigation into his intentions and activities.

Hu arrived in New Delhi on November 19 on a tourist visa. The visa permitted him to visit specific Buddhist religious sites in India, including Varanasi, Agra, New Delhi, Jaipur, Sarnath, Gaya, and Kushinagar. However, on November 20, he boarded a flight to Leh without registering at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) counter at Leh airport. Security agencies were alerted by unusual internet activity.

During his time in the region, Hu toured the Zanskar area for three days before arriving in Srinagar on December 1. While in Srinagar, he stayed in an unregistered guest house. He also visited several locations, including the Shankaracharya hills, Hazratbal shrine, Mughal Gardens along Dal Lake, a Buddhist religious site in Harwan, and the Awantipur ruins in South Kashmir.

Authorities are scrutinizing Hu's activities and motives. His mobile phone history revealed searches related to the deployment of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the Kashmir Valley and information about Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which formerly granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. He also acquired an Indian SIM card from the open market. Hu reportedly told interrogators that he had watched films like The Kashmir Files and Article 370 and was interested in books about Kashmir, including Curfewed Night by Basharat Peer.

Hu Congtai's passport indicates prior travel to the United States, New Zealand, Brazil, Fiji, and Hong Kong. He claims to be a travel enthusiast and holds a physics degree from Boston University.

While he was released after initial questioning, authorities may summon him again. Deportation for violating visa regulations remains a possibility.