Chinese PLA Hands Over To Indian Army 5 Missing Youth From Arunachal Pradesh

China is likely to hand over the 5 abducted youth from Arunachal Pradesh to Indian authorities today informed Union Minister Kiren Rijiju.

Indian Army personnel keep vigilance at Bumla pass at the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh on October 21, 2012. Bumla is the last Indian Army post at the India-China border at an altitude of 15,700 feet above sea level. AFP PHOTO/ BIJU BORO (Photo by BIJU BORO / AFP)

New Delhi: China has handed over the five youths from Arunachal Pradesh, who had gone missing on September 2, today. The Indian Army has taken all five individuals after completing the formalities. According to an official statement by the Army, they will be kept under quarantine for 14 days as per Covid 19 protocol.

Indian Army took over all five individuals (missing from Arunachal Pradesh) at Kibitu today after completing all formalities. Individuals will now be quarantined for 14 days as per COVID-19 protocol and will thereafter be handed over to their family members: PRO Defence, Tezpur https://t.co/4mI5xpxAiu

— ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2020

The Union Minister and MP from Arunachal Pradesh Kiren Rijiju had said on Friday that they will be handed over to Indian authorities on Saturday. He had also tweeted the information

The Chinese PLA has confirmed to Indian Army to hand over the youths from Arunachal Pradesh to our side. The handing over is likely to take place anytime tomorrow i.e. 12th September 2020 at a designated location. https://t.co/UaM9IIZl56

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) September 11, 2020

ALSO READ| BJP, AAP Lock Horns Over Supreme Court's Order To Demolish Slum Along Railway Tracks In Delhi According to a report by PTI, the abducted youths were part of the group that had gone hunting in the jungle. When two members from the group returned home and informed the families that the Chinese troops from Sera-7, an Army patrol zone located about 12 km further north of Nacho had whisked them away. Nacho is the last administrative circle along the McMahon Line and is around 120 km from the district headquarters Daporijo. On September 5th,  Congress MLA Ninong Ering also reported the incident and said that China's PLA (People's Liberation Army) has abducted 5 boys from Nacho, Upper Subansiri in Arunachal Pradesh. He said “this has happened at a time when Rajanath Singh is meeting defence ministers of Russia & China. PLA's action has sent a very wrong message.” As per posts on social media, the names of the five abducted boys are Tanu Bakar, Prasat Ringling, Ngaru Diri, Dongtu Ebiya & Toch Singkam. The PLA on September 8th then responded to the hotline message by Indian Army and confirmed that missing youths from Arunachal Pradesh have been found by their side. Rijiju, had said that further modalities to handover them to Indian authority were being worked out. The incident occurred at a time when tensions have escalated at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.