KOLKATA: The Indian Army has, through its hotline, sent a message to the Chinese PLA regarding the five Arunachal youths taken into custody by the PLA from the border areas. PLA is yet to get back to the Army.
“The Indian Army has already sent hotline message to the counterpart PLA establishment at the border point in Arunachal Pradesh. Response is awaited,” Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports and Lok Sabha member from Arunachal (West) constituency, tweeted this evening.
Five youths, residents of Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh, were caught by the PLA soldiers from the jungle near Nacho. The youths apparently went inside the jungle to carry loads for the Army as hired porters. After their job was over, they were out fishing when the PLA picked them up.
While Congress MLA and former Lok Sabha member Ninong Erring and BJP MP from Arunachal (East) constituency Tapir Gao had both expressed concern about the incident, the Army as well as the state administration were initially reluctant to confirm its veracity.
Rijiju’s tweet today can be seen as a confirmation from the GoI that the PLA did pick up these boys from near the Indo China border. The incident took place on September 3.
In March this year, a 21-year-old man was “abducted” by the PLA in a similar fashion from Asapila sector of Arunachal Pradesh near the McMahon line. While his two friends managed to escape, Togley Sinkam was taken away at gunpoint, his family had said. After 19 days in captivity, the youth was released by the Chinese Army.