Chinese man taken to eateries as cops retrace movement in Dharamsala
Accused sent to judicial custody till Feb 19; police verify possible espionage links
As part of the ongoing investigation into a Chinese national arrested in Dharamsala, local police on Friday took him to several locations, including food establishments, to verify his movements and reconstruct events linked to his stay in McLeodganj and adjoining areas.
Sources in the police and intelligence agencies said such verification exercises are routine in suspected espionage cases, where the accused is taken to places he may have visited to meet handlers, take photographs or exchange information. These locations often include public spaces such as restaurants and cafés.
On Friday, a team from the McLeodganj police station took the Chinese national, identified as Lou Wennian, to Bhagsu Restaurant, located opposite the zonal office of the Inspector General of Police in Dharamsala.
Eyewitnesses said on entering the restaurant, Lou Wennian went straight to a wash basin at the rear to wash his hands, suggesting familiarity with the premises. However, police officials accompanying him said he was taken there for lunch as part of routine movement during police remand.
Lou Wennian appeared calm and was seen smiling on arrival, showing no visible signs of distress despite being in police custody.
Confirming the latest development, Bir Bahadur, Additional Superintendent of Police, said on Friday evening, the accused was produced before a duty magistrate in Dharamsala and was remanded to judicial custody till February 19.
An FIR under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, 1946, has been registered against him at the McLeodganj police station.
Investigations have revealed that he had allegedly been staying illegally in the region for the past 130 days prior to his arrest. Despite language barriers, he frequently moved around McLeodganj and Dharamsala, visiting restaurants and purchasing groceries.
Police recovered two mobile phones and a tablet from him, though no SIM cards were found. Investigators believe he relied solely on WiFi networks for communication, possibly accessed from multiple locations.
According to his passport, Lou Wennian is a resident of China’s Sichuan province. Preliminary inquiries suggest he may have links with the police department in his home province and the Chinese army. He had been residing in a rented accommodation in McLeodganj, the hill town that is also home to Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, considered a bête noire by China.
