By Trend News Line 2024-06-09 03:24:19.
In a recent incident that has raised concerns about security along the India-China border, a 34-year old Chinese national, Yudong Guo, was found in the village of Sumdo in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district without a Protected Area Permit (PAP). The Himachal Pradesh Police are currently investigating how Guo managed to reach the protected area without the necessary documentation.
Accompanied by an Indian woman from Maharashtra, Guo had entered Sumdo via Dubling, a protected area near the India-China border. Despite carrying documents indicating that he was married to the Indian woman, Guo did not have the required PAP for foreign nationals traveling beyond Dubling. Indian nationals, on the other hand, need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to visit such areas.
Following his apprehension, Yudong Guo was presented before the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate at Reckong Peo in Kinnaur and has been remanded in police custody until June 10. The Superintendent of Police in Kinnaur, Shrishti Pandey, has refrained from disclosing further details of the case, citing its sensitivity and relevance to national security.
Protected areas along the India-China border are governed by the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, which designates certain regions between the ‘inner line’ and the international border as protected areas. In Himachal Pradesh, specific areas in Kinnaur and Lahaul & Spiti districts fall under this category. These include villages like Khab in Kinnaur, and Samdo, Dhankar, Dubling, Tabo, Gompa, Kaza, and Morang in Lahaul & Spiti.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is responsible for issuing PAPs to foreign nationals, with local administrative officials in the relevant states also authorized to grant these permits. In Himachal Pradesh, district magistrates and sub-divisional magistrates of Kinnaur and Lahaul & Spiti hold the authority to issue PAPs. However, obtaining a PAP for Chinese and Pakistani nationals is rare, as prior approval from the MHA is required.
On the other hand, Indian nationals can obtain an ILP from the respective state government for inward travel to protected areas. Gurusawat Singh, a travel agent based in Shimla, emphasized the role of registered travel agents in facilitating the PAP application process for foreign nationals.
Yudong Guo has been booked under Section 14A of the Foreigners Act, 1946, for entering a restricted and protected area without a valid permit. The section stipulates imprisonment for a minimum of two years, extendable to eight years, along with a fine of not less than Rs 10,000. The police have shared details of the case with central agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau (IB).
The incident has highlighted the importance of adherence to permit regulations in border areas to ensure national security and prevent unauthorized entry into sensitive regions. Authorities are working to ascertain the circumstances of Guo’s presence in Sumdo and whether there was any underlying motive for his actions..
Protected Area Permit Chinese national Kinnaur carrying Chandigarh News.
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