DHARAMSALA: A major security lapse came to light on Monday after a Chinese national was found living illegally in the high-security McLeod Ganj area of Dharamshala—close to the residence of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama—for more than four months without a valid Indian visa.
According to police sources, the security branch of the Kangra Superintendent of Police (SP) office became suspicious after a foreign national arrived at the SP office and was unable to communicate in either Hindi or English, speaking only Chinese. The McLeod Ganj police station was immediately informed, following which an investigating officer was dispatched.
During questioning, the individual produced his passport, identifying him as Lu Wennian (60), a resident of Sichuan province in China, born on May 10, 1965. His passport was issued in Yunnan, China. Police scrutiny revealed that he possessed only a Nepalese tourist visa, valid from June 29, 2025, to September 26, 2025 (90 days), and no valid Indian visa.
Further investigation established that Lu Wennian had been staying in the McLeod Ganj area illegally for approximately 130 days, from September 26, 2025, to February 2, 2026, in violation of Indian immigration laws. Police confirmed that his stay constitutes a punishable offence under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, 1946.
The accused has been taken into custody and an FIR has been registered.
Confirming the development, Superintendent of Police Kangra, Ashok Ratan, said that further investigation is underway to determine how the foreign national entered India and managed to remain undetected for such a long period.