Chinese PLA hands over missing Arunachal youth to India: Rijiju

Itanagar, Jan 27 (IANS) Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said that the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has handed over the Arunachal Pradesh teenager Miram Taron to the Indian Army nine days after the youth went missing.

Rijiju, who closely monitored the process of the release of Taron since he went missing on January 18, tweeted: "The Chinese PLA has handed over the young boy from Arunachal Pradesh Shri Miram Taron to the Indian Army. Due procedures are being followed including the medical examination."

An official of the Upper Siang District administration said that they in association with the Army, police, health and the local officials would follow the formalities before handing over the youth to his family. "We have to follow the Covid-19 protocols before handing over the youth to his family," an official of the Upper Siang District administration told the media.

A resident of Jido Village in Upper Siang District, Taron, aged 19 years, was reportedly kidnapped by the PLA on January 18 from Shiyung La in Bishing Area of the Indian territory.

Rijiju on Wednesday tweeted: "Hotline exchanged on Republic Day by Indian Army with Chinese PLA. PLA responded positively indicating handing over of our national and suggested a place of release. They are likely to have an intimate date and time soon. Delay attributed to bad weather conditions on their side."

The Arunachal Pradesh government had also sought the Defence Ministry's intervention to ensure the safe return of Taron.

The Chinese Army reportedly abducted Tarom from the Indian territory where China had constructed a 3-4 km road in 2018.

Tarom's friend, who managed to escape, reported the matter to the authorities and brought it to the notice of Tapir Gao, a BJP MP from the Arunachal East Parliamentary constituency.

Gao had tweeted about the incident last week.

In September 2020, the Chinese PLA had reportedly kidnapped five boys from Arunachal Pradesh's Upper Subansiri district before releasing them after about a week.The villagers in the region have to trek through the remote mountainous areas due to the lack of proper roads.

Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,080-km border with China.