Chinese National Detained in Srinagar on Suspicion of Espionage: Phone Sent for Forensic Examination

Srinagar: A 29-year-old Chinese citizen has been detained in Jammu and Kashmir on charges of serious visa violations after he allegedly travelled to multiple restricted and strategically sensitive areas in Ladakh and the Kashmir Valley without required permissions.

The man, Hu Congtai, entered India on November 19 on a tourist visa that explicitly restricted him to Buddhist pilgrimage circuits in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. Despite the clear limitations, authorities say he travelled to Leh, Zanskar, and several high-security zones in the Kashmir Valley, including areas near the Indian Army’s Victor Force headquarters in Awantipora, Harwan Buddhist monastery, Hazratbal shrine, Shankaracharya Hill, and locations overlooking Dal Lake.

Intelligence sources told reporters that Hu’s mobile phone – which he was using with an Indian SIM card purchased informally shortly after arrival – has been seized and sent to a forensic laboratory. Preliminary checks reportedly revealed search history related to CRPF deployments, the abrogation of Article 370, and other security-sensitive topics. Investigators are also examining whether browsing data was deliberately deleted.

During interrogation at a police facility near Srinagar airport, Hu claimed ignorance of Indian visa regulations and described himself as a “travel enthusiast” who had lived in the United States for nine years after studying physics at Boston University. His passport bears stamps from the US, New Zealand, Brazil, Fiji, and Hong Kong.

Security agencies say the pattern of his movements – particularly his three-day stay in the remote Zanskar region and visits to vantage points and religious sites near military installations – has raised strong suspicions of possible intelligence-gathering.

A senior police officer involved in the case said, “We are treating this with utmost seriousness. The forensic report of the phone and further questioning will determine the real intent behind his unauthorised travel to prohibited areas.”

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