SOURCE: Times Now Digital
Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on Tuesday confirmed that the five missing youths from Arunachal Pradesh have been found on their side. The Chinese confirmed the presence of the youths while responding to the Indian Army’s hotline message.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju, who represents Arunachal East Parliamentary constituency, said that the Chinese authorities are working on the modalities to hand over the youths to the Indian authorities.
Confirming the same, Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju tweeted: “China’s PLA has responded to the hotline message sent by Indian Army. They have confirmed that the missing youths from Arunachal Pradesh have been found by their side. Further modalities to handover the persons to our authority is being worked out.”
Eastern Command, Indian Army also confirmed that China has said that the missing Arunachal villagers have been traced and formalities are underway to bring them back. “As a result of persistent efforts of Indian Army five missing hunters from the Indian side of LAC in Upper Subansiri, who had inadvertently crossed over to other side on 02 Sept 2020, were traced. Chinese Army on 08 Sept 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,” the statement issued by the Army said.
The five villagers have been identified as Toch Singkam, Prasat Ringling, Dongtu Ebiya, Tanu Baker and Ngaru Diri.
It was alleged that the youth, belonging to Upper Subansiri district, were allegedly abducted by PLA. The five villagers went missing after they went for hunting in a jungle. They are as engaged as porters and guides by the Indian Army.
Two other villagers, who had accompanied them went for hunting, had informed the families that the five youths had been whisked away by the Chinese troops from Sera-7.
Upper Subansiri Superintendent of Police (SP) Taru Gussar had earlier said that the locals alleged that the five people belonging to the Tagin community were abducted by the Chinese military.
The development comes a day after the Indian Army on Monday handed over yaks and calves that had strayed across the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh’s East Kameng. The Chinese officials thanked the Army for the “compassionate gesture”.
“In a humane gesture, the Indian Army handed over 13 Yaks and four Calves that strayed across the LAC on August 31 in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh to China on 07 Sep 20. Chinese officials present thanked the Indian Army for the compassionate gesture,” the Eastern Command tweeted.
India-China border in Ladakh: Situation remains tense
India and China are engaged in a bitter border standoff since May over the transgressions by the Chinese troops in multiple areas in easter Ladakh. The two sides have been engaged in both diplomatic and military level talks, but there has been no major headway, so far.
Despite mutual disengagement process between the two countries, Chinese troops recently tried to transgress into Indian territories near the southern bank of Pangong Tso near Chushul in Ladakh. However, the Indian Army preempted the ulterior motive of the PLA and thwarted the attempt.
The Indian Army today dismissed the charges of PLA that it transgressed across the LAC on September 7 night and also fired warning shots. The Army accused the Chinese military of attempting to close-in with one of the forward positions along the LAC.
“In the instant case on September 7, it was the PLA troops who were attempting to close-in with one of our forward positions along the LAC and when dissuaded by own (Indian) troops, PLA troops fired a few rounds in the air in an attempt to intimidate own troops,” Army’s statement read.
Army’s strong response came after China alleged that the Indian troops crossed the LAC and “outrageously fired” warning shots near the Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh.
