Some Kashmiris have found an ingenious way of beating the Union Home Ministry's ban on travelling to China with visas stapled to their passports.
The Chinese embassy in New Delhi had started issuing visas to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir by not stamping their passports but by granting the visa on separate sheets, which was seen by observers as Chinese attempt to question the state's status as part of India.
The Government took up the matter with China in October last and made it clear that no one would be allowed to travel on a stapled visa.
In a novel way to skirt around the Home Ministry's objection, people, having place of birth mentioned as Kashmir in their passport, started using the Hong Kong or Macau route to enter mainland China.
Five cases were noticed by the Immigration authorities where people, born in Jammu and Kashmir, had visited Hong Kong and later to mainland China by getting the visa stapled to their travel document, official sources said.
The sources said the new trend has been reported to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Home Ministry has issued an advisory to all airports for making a proper enquiry from all the passengers coming or going to Hong Kong and Macau. Even the airlines have been asked to verify and cross-check the final port of disembarkation. PTI
