Daijiworld Media Network - Srinagar
Srinagar, Mar 23: Police in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district have registered a case against a hotel in Pahalgam for allegedly failing to inform authorities about the stay of 23 foreign nationals.
According to officials, the action was taken under the Immigration and Foreigners Act after the hotel management did not comply with mandatory reporting procedures. Among the foreign guests were 19 British citizens.
Police stated that during a routine inspection in the Dehwatoo area, it was discovered that the group had checked into Hotel Misty Mountains Laddi on the evening of March 22. However, the hotel reportedly did not submit the required online Form C, a compulsory registration process for foreign visitors.
Authorities alleged that the hotel deliberately withheld this information from the local police station, thereby breaching legal provisions and compromising established security protocols. Following this, a formal FIR was lodged at Police Station Pahalgam, and an investigation has been initiated.
Law enforcement officials have reiterated the importance of strict compliance with regulations, urging all hotel operators in the region to ensure timely reporting of foreign guests.
The development comes amid heightened vigilance following a previous incident in late 2025 involving a Chinese national, Hu Congtai. He was detained for traveling to restricted areas in Ladakh and Kashmir without proper authorization, in violation of his visa conditions.
Hu had entered India on a tourist visa limited to select destinations such as Varanasi, Agra, and Jaipur. Despite this, he traveled to Leh on November 20, 2025, without completing mandatory registration at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).
Security agencies reportedly flagged his movements due to suspicious online activity, including searches related to sensitive topics like Central Reserve Police Force deployments and Article 370. He was also found to have visited strategically sensitive areas near military installations.
After an investigation, Hu was deported to Hong Kong and blacklisted. The incident prompted authorities to tighten enforcement and take action against hotels and guesthouses failing to follow foreign guest reporting norms.