Who is Hu Congtai? Chinese Man Detained in Occupied Kashmir

SRINAGAR – December 2025: Indian authorities have detained a 29-year-old Chinese citizen in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Officials claim he spent nearly two weeks travelling through Ladakh and Kashmir without permission. After his arrest, police launched a major crackdown on hotels and guest houses that failed to report foreign visitors.

How Authorities First Detected Him

According to officials, the Indian Army noticed a suspicious online activity that suggested a foreigner was moving through a sensitive area. Investigators later identified the person as Hu Congtai, a resident of Shenzhen in China’s Guangdong province.

Arrival in India and Visa Violations

Reports say Hu Congtai arrived in New Delhi on 19 November. His visa allowed him to visit only Buddhist sites in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. However, he violated his visa restrictions by travelling to Ladakh and then to occupied Kashmir.

Search History Raises Concerns

When authorities checked his mobile phone, they found searches related to CRPF deployments, Article 370, and other security-sensitive topics. He had also purchased an Indian SIM card from a local market.

His Movements Across Ladakh

Sources claim Hu boarded a flight to Leh on 20 November. Due to his resemblance to local people, he reportedly passed through airport checks without raising suspicion. He then travelled across several parts of Ladakh, including the Zanskar region, before entering Srinagar on 1 December.

Places He Visited in Kashmir

In Srinagar, he stayed at a guest house that was not registered to host foreigners. During his visit, he toured several locations such as:

• Harwan Buddhist Monastery

• Shankaracharya Hill

• Hazratbal area

• Mughal Gardens near Dal Lake

• The ruins of Avantipora

Educational & Travel Background

Reports state that Hu Congtai holds a physics degree from Boston University. He has also travelled to multiple countries, including the United States, New Zealand, Brazil, Fiji, and Hong Kong. Authorities believe his case is primarily a visa violation, and he may be deported.

Crackdown on Hotels and Guest Houses

Following his arrest, Srinagar Police began strict action against hotels, home-stays, and houseboats that failed to submit mandatory Form-C reporting for foreign nationals. So far, police have filed five FIRs. Investigators also discovered that travellers from Russia, Israel, Romania, and Spain stayed at different places without proper reporting.

Key Question for Investigators

Authorities are now trying to understand how Hu managed to move across Ladakh and Kashmir for nearly two weeks without being flagged by any security agency.