New Delhi: Days after Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal Pradesh Tapir Gao said that a teenager has been abducted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) from the Siyungla area of Upper Siang, Lt Col Harshvardhan Pandey, PRO Defence Tezpur has informed that the Chinese Army has found a missing boy.
Pandey said to ANI, "The Chinese Army has communicated to us that they have found a missing boy from Arunachal Pradesh and the due procedure is being followed."
Miram Taron, a native of Zido village in the district, was allegedly kidnapped on January 18 from a jungle in Siyungla area, where he had gone hunting along with his friend Jhonny Yaying (27), Upper Siang DC Shaswat Saurabh stated.
Saurabh also said that he has found out from Yaying that it was almost dark when the Chinese soldiers surrounded them in Siyungla area, near Bishing village.
"While Yaying managed to escape, Taron's whereabouts are yet to be established.
"As the area of operation falls under the jurisdiction of the Indian Army, the matter will be dealt with at a higher level. We have given all information to the higher authorities", said Saurabh to PTI.
Bishing is the last Indian village near the Sino-Indian border, located along the left bank of Siang river. The village is around 260 km from Yingkiong, the district headquarters.
Arunachal Pradesh Tapir Gao had tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Indian Army. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that the Centre is looking into all the issues at its level and holds discussions whenever the need arises. "Government is looking into issues at its level. Whenever there is a need for discussion, it holds discussions as well at its level," said Birla to ANI.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has already initiated diplomatic talks with China to bring the youth home.
"I am very optimistic that the boy will be released in a few days, Khandu said.
State Congress MLA and former union minister Ninong Ering has also appealed to the Centre to ensure the safe return of Taron.
"We have nothing to do with China and both the ministries of external affairs and defence should take immediate and appropriate action so as to ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future, Ering said.
The latest incident came at a time when the Indian Army continues to be engaged in a stand-off with the PLA in eastern Ladakh since April 2020.
India shares a 3,400-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.