China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has confirmed to the Indian Army that they have found a missing person, even as authorities are trying to confirm whether he is the same youth who had recently gone missing from Arunachal Pradesh. BJP MP from the state, Tapir Gao, had alleged that PLA troops had abducted a 17-year-old from Indian territory on January 18.
Sources said the PLA will confirm the youth’s identity using photos and then start the process of sending him back, which could take about a week.
The Indian Army had earlier reached out to the PLA regarding the disappearance of Miram Taron. Defence sources had said that the Army was in touch with the PLA on the matter.
After it received information about the missing person, the Army “immediately contacted the PLA through established mechanism of hotline”, informing them that an individual “who was collecting herbs and hunting, has lost his way and cannot be found”, sources said.
The Army then sought assistance from the PLA to locate Taron on their side and return him as per protocol. The PLA responded on January 21 saying that they had found a boy.
Gao, who is the MP from Arunachal East, had termed it an instance of abduction from Indian territory. He said two people had been abducted, but one of them managed to escape and report it to the authorities.
The MP had tweeted on January 19 saying, “Chinese #PLA has abducted Sh Miram Taron, 17 years of Zido vill. yesterday 18th Jan 2022 from inside Indian territory, Lungta Jor area (China built 3-4 kms road inside India in 2018) under Siyungla area (Bishing village) of Upper Siang dist, Arunachal Pradesh.”
