Eight Chinese nationals held in Himachal village

The Himachal Pradesh police arrested eight Chinese nationals from Jongsar monastery in Mandi district. They have been arrested on charges of visa violation. The Chinese nationals were on tourist visa and were illegally working as carpenters and painters in Chauntra town in Mandi district.

The police team also recovered Indian currency worth Rs. 30 lakh, US$ 3,000 and some other foreign currencies in cash, international ATM cards, mobile phones, and Chinese SIM cards from them. They were to be under police surveillance for the last two days.

These Chinese nationals had been living in the house, which has a 15-foot high wall, for quite some time and some of them were working as masons. According to the Superintendent of police Abhishek Dullar, “They were staying there individually for quite some time. Their credentials are under investigation as they have not registered themselves with the foreigner registration office.”

The police was investigating as to how these Chinese managed to come together in a remote village like Chauntra. Chauntra village is located on Mandi-Pathankot highway, which is a large settlement of Tibetan exiles.