The Indian Army is in touch with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China regarding a youth from Arunachal Pradesh who has been missing since January 18.  The Army has sought assistance from the PLA to locate the youth on their side, and return him as per protocol. However, a response from the PLA is still awaited. 

After the news of the missing youth broke out, the Indian Army “immediately contacted the PLA through an established mechanism of hotline” informing them that an individual “who was collecting herbs and hunting, has lost his way and cannot be found”.

While defence establishment sources have mentioned that the boy is missing, MP from East Arunachal, Tapir Gao, had claimed that the 17-year-old boy named Miram Taron was abducted by the PLA on Tuesday. He called it an instance of abduction from Indian territory. He claimed two people had been abducted, but one of them managed to escape and reported to the authorities.

MP Gao informed that Miram, along with his friend Jhonny Yaying, was roaming in the deep forest to collect natural herbs. “Around 6.30 PM on the evening of 18 January, the Chinese PLA, who were deep inside the Indian Territory, tried to abduct both the boys. Jhonny managed to escape from the scene but the PLA abducted Miram Taron,” said Gao.

On Wednesday, Jhonny reached Tuting, the nearest circle headquarter, and informed the villagers and authorities about the incident. Both Jhonny and Miram belong to Zido village near Tuting under Upper Siang district.

MP Gao claimed that he had raised the matter of abduction with the highest authority at Delhi and in the state.

The area from where the abduction took place comes inside the Indian Territory. In 2018, the Chinese PLA reportedly built a road in the area leading to a clash with the Indian Army.

The incident comes at a time when India and China are yet to resolve the over 21-month long standoff in eastern Ladakh, raising further security concerns. In the last week of December, China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs had announced standardised Chinese characters and the Tibetan and Roman alphabet for the names of 15 places in Zangnan, the Chinese name for Arunachal Pradesh, which it claims is South Tibet.

It is to be mentioned that this is not the first time that the PLA has abducted an Arunachalee citizen. In September 2020, five Arunachalee youths from Nacho circle under Upper Subansiri district were abducted by the Chinese Army from the Sera 7 area near the Indo-Tibet border. Later, they were released after a lengthy diplomatic intervention.

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