Srinagar: A Chinese national, identified as Congtai, was deported from Srinagar on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, after authorities discovered he had entered Jammu and Kashmir in violation of visa regulations. The individual's visa did not permit travel to the Union Territory, according to officials.
Police sources indicated that Congtai’s visa was restricted to specific destinations within India, including Varanasi, Agra, New Delhi, Jaipur, Sarnath, Gaya, and Kushinagar. Jammu and Kashmir was not listed among the authorized locations on his travel document.
Following a verification of his travel records and a preliminary inquiry, police initiated deportation procedures in accordance with standard protocol. Authorities confirmed that his entry into the Union Territory contravened visa regulations.
According to police information, Congtai arrived in Srinagar on December 1, 2025, via IndiGo flight 6E 6762 from New Delhi. He remained in the region until local police detected the visa discrepancy. Subsequently, the police coordinated with immigration and airport authorities to arrange his departure. He was deported from Srinagar Airport and sent back to Delhi on an Air India Express flight.
Prior to his deportation, Congtai was detained and investigated for suspicious activities. Officials sent his mobile phone for forensic examination, as he had reportedly traveled to strategically important locations in Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir. Authorities were concerned that he did not provide clear answers regarding the purpose of his visits to these border regions.
Officials found that Congtai's browsing history included searches related to the deployment of CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) and Article 370 of the Constitution. Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated in August 2019. This raised suspicions about his recent trip to the strategically important Zanskar region in Ladakh, where he stayed for three days before arriving in Srinagar on December 1. Officials are investigating whether he deleted any digital traces before reaching Srinagar.
Hu claimed he had spent nine years in the United States studying physics at Boston University and described himself as an avid traveler. He stated that he was unaware of visa restrictions preventing him from visiting Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.
The incident has prompted increased scrutiny of foreigners entering Jammu and Kashmir. Police have filed multiple cases against hotels and houseboats for failing to report the stay of foreign nationals to authorities, as mandated by the Immigration and Foreigners Act. These cases were mainly filed against facilities in and around Dal Lake and adjoining areas in the city. A similar case was filed against a hotel in Pahalgam.
Police reiterated that strict enforcement of visa regulations remains in place, and any violations related to unauthorized travel or stay will be dealt with according to the law.
