Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have taken a 29-year-old Chinese national into custody after he ventured into restricted border areas without permission, sparking concerns over his intentions. Identified as Hu Congtai, the man was apprehended in Srinagar following intelligence alerts about unusual online activity linked to his movements across Ladakh and the Kashmir Valley. His mobile phone, now under forensic examination, reportedly showed searches for sensitive topics like Article 370 and CRPF deployments.​

Hu arrived in Delhi on November 19 on a tourist visa confined to specific cultural sites such as Varanasi and Agra. Yet, he swiftly flew to Leh the next day, evading mandatory foreigner registration, and spent days exploring Zanskar's strategic monasteries before reaching Srinagar on December 1. There, he stayed at an unregistered guesthouse and visited spots near military installations, including Harwan and Awantipora, while using a locally acquired Indian SIM card.​

The discovery of his phone's search history—focusing on India's 2019 constitutional changes to Article 370 and security force positions—has intensified scrutiny. A physics graduate from Boston University with a travel history spanning the US, New Zealand, and beyond, Hu insists he was just sightseeing. However, officials are investigating potential deleted data or local contacts amid heightened border tensions.​

This incident underscores ongoing vigilance in sensitive regions, reminiscent of prior cases involving unauthorized Chinese visitors near strategic sites. J&K Police have since tightened checks on accommodations to ensure foreign guest reporting. While espionage charges remain unconfirmed, Hu faces likely deportation for visa breaches.