5 Missing Arunachal Youths Found on Chinese Side

Five persons from Tagin community in Arunachal’s Upper Subansiri district were allegedly abducted by China’s PLA.

A signboard is seen from the Indian side of the Indo-China border at Bumla, Arunachal Pradesh. Image used for representational purposes.

(Photo: Reuters)

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday, 8 September said that the five missing youths from Arunachal Pradesh have been found on the Chinese side.

“China's PLA has responded to hotline message by Indian Army. They confirmed that missing youths from Arunachal Pradesh have been found by their side. Further modalities to hand over them to our authority being worked out,” Rijiju tweeted.

The confirmation from China comes just a day aftrer China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said he has “no details on Indian army sending a message to PLA about five missing Indians in the region.”

“As a result of persistent efforts of Indian Army five missing hunters from Indian side of LAC in Upper Subansiri, who had inadvertently crossed over to other side on 2 September 2020, were traced. Chinese Army 8 September responded on Hotline and confirmed that the missing Indians have been found on their side. Formalities for their early transfer is being coordinated with the Chinese Army,” Lt Col Harsh Wardhan Pande said.

WHO ARE THE YOUTH?

Five persons hailing from the Tagin community in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Subansiri district were allegedly abducted by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from the jungle near Nacho while they were out hunting.

Rijiju had on 6 September had said, “The Indian Army has already sent hotline message to the counterpart PLA establishment at the border point in Arunachal Pradesh. Response is awaited.”

The abducted persons - Toch Singkam, Prasat Ringling, Dongtu Ebiya, Tanu Baker and Ngaru Diri - all of who belong to the Tagin community - had gone to the forest for hunting, a traditional practice of the tribals in the area.

Two other villagers who had accompanied the abducted persons and managed to escape narrated the incident before the public

WHAT DID CHINA SAY

China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Monday said he has “no details on Indian army sending a message to PLA about five missing Indians in the region,” as quoted by Global Times.

Lijian further asserted that “China has never recognised so-called "Arunachal Pradesh," which is China's south Tibet region.”