An 85-year-old former Chinese soldier, Wang Qi, who has resided in India's Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh for over five decades, is facing the threat of deportation after overstaying his visa. Wang Qi's son, Vishnu, stated that his father was recently instructed to report to the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO).
Wang Qi's story dates back to January 3, 1963, when he was arrested by Indian forces after he inadvertently crossed the border into Arunachal Pradesh during a survey mission. At the time, he was serving as a mechanical survey engineer in the People's Liberation Army (PLA). With the Sino-Indian War having ended weeks earlier, Wang was treated as a spy and imprisoned for eight years. After his release, he chose to remain in India. He eventually settled in Tirodi village, where he adopted the name Raj Bahadur, married a local tribal woman, and started a family.
According to Vishnu, the family has avoided contacting the Chinese embassy for a long-term visa due to Indo-Pak tensions. Vishnu fears his father could be forced to leave India, where he has lived for over 50 years. He is seeking a long-term visa to prevent deportation and allow Wang Qi to spend his remaining years in China, reconnecting with his roots and family. Vishnu stated, "We want him to live peacefully in China, but we also want him to stay close in case he needs us".
Wang is currently on a four-month visa, and the family faces financial strain with each renewal costing Rs 15,000. Vishnu said that they have requested a long-term visa for at least five to ten years, but nothing has progressed. Now, they have been instructed to report to the FRO for the first time.
The family is also facing another bureaucratic challenge, as local authorities in Balaghat have refused to issue caste certificates to Wang's grandchildren because of his foreign nationality. Without these certificates, the children cannot access government benefits meant for Scheduled Castes, despite their mother's status and their lifelong residence in India.
The uncertainty has put the family in a difficult situation. Returning to China is not a straightforward option, as Wang's records in China reportedly listed him as "deceased". Although the PLA initiated an internal inquiry into his disappearance in 1963, there has been no formal resolution or pension provided.
Wang Qi remains in the village he has called home for over fifty years. Vishnu says, "We are Indian in every way that matters. My father made his life here".
In February 2017, Wang Qi, then 77, along with his son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter, traveled to Beijing for an emotional reunion with his Chinese relatives. His Indian wife, Shushila, stayed back in India. The journey was made possible after India and China worked out the arrangements for Wang and his family to travel to China and return as they wished. The Chinese government had provided Wang Qi with a passport in 2013 and a living allowance. India had also provided a re-entry visa for Wang.
