Five Indian civilians, who went missing from villages near the border with China earlier this month, have been handed over to India by China’s People’s Liberation Army or PLA, as per army sources.
The Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) would hand over the civilians, who went missing from Arunachal Pradesh, on Saturday at a designated location.
China will hand over the five Indian nationals at Wacha near Kibithu border personnel meeting point, said Army sources later.
The Minister took to Twitter to announce, “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.”
The PLA had earlier confirmed that the missing civilians were found by their side and that the modalities on the handover process were being worked out.
Those who were allegedly kidnapped by the Chinese Army were identified as Toch Singkam, Prasat Ringling, Dongtu Ebiya, Tanu Baker and Ngaru Diri.
Union minister Rijiju first broke the news about the PLA’s confirmation that the youths were found on the Chinese side of the Sino-Indian border.
The incident occurred last Friday in the Nacho area of the district. Two others, who were in the group, managed to escape and informed police. It came to light when two members from the group of youths, who went hunting in the jungle, returned home and informed the families of the five that they were whisked away by the Chinese troops from Sera-7, an Army patrol zone located about 12 km further north of Nacho.
The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a media briefing in Beijing that “China’s position on the eastern sector of the China-India boundary, or Zangnan (the southern part of China’s Xizang (Tibet) ), is consistent and clear.” He added that the Chinese government has never recognised the “so-called Arunachal Pradesh”.