Rijiju thanks Indian Army for 'safely securing young boy back home'
ITANAGAR, Jan 27: Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said that China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has handed over the young Arunachal Pradesh boy, Miram Taron (17), to the Indian Army nine days after he went ‘missing’ from Arunachal’s Upper Siang district.
Rijiju said the boy was handed over to the Indian Army at the Wacha-Damai interaction point in Arunachal Pradesh. He expressed thankfulness to the Indian Army for pursuing the case meticulously with PLA and “safely securing our young boy back home”.
“The Chinese PLA handed over the young boy from Arunachal Pradesh Shri Miram Taron to Indian Army at WACHA-DAMAI interaction point in Arunachal Pradesh today. I thank our proud Indian Army for pursuing the case meticulously with PLA and safely securing our young boy back home,” Rijiju said in a tweet.
The teen from Zido village in Upper Siang was allegedly abducted by the Chinese PLA from Lungta Jor area under Siyungla area of Bishing village bordering China on January 18 when he had gone hunting along with his friend.
Rijiju, also the MP from Arunachal West constituency, earlier in the day tweeted, “The Chinese PLA has handed over the young boy from Arunachal Pradesh Shri Miram Taron to Indian Army. Due procedures are being followed including the medical examination.”
On Wednesday, the Union Minister said that Chinese PLA has ‘confirmed’ that the young Arunachal Pradesh boy will be repatriated to the Indian side. “Chinese PLA has confirmed that young Indian from Arunachal Pradesh Shri Miram Taron will be repatriated to the Indian side. Will disclose the exact place & time later for smooth proceeding. Accordingly Indian Army has coordinated the necessary arrangements with the Chinese Side,” a tweet from Rijiju said.
He has also said, “Hotline exchanged on Republic Day by Indian Army with Chinese PLA. PLA responded positively indicating handing over of our national and suggested a place of release. They are likely to intimate date and time soon. Delay attributed to bad weather conditions on their side.”
Rijiju had earlier said, since the individual was missing from the area close to LAC, the Indian Army had immediately approached the Chinese side, asking for assistance in tracing and return of the individual, in case he had strayed into Chinese territory or the PLA had taken him in their custody. “The Chinese side assured that they would search for the individual and return him as per established protocol,” Rijiju had said in a statement on Tuesday.
“On 20 January 2022, Chinese side intimated that they had found a boy on their side and requested for further details to establish the identity. To assist Chinese side in corroborating the identity, personal details and photo of the individual has been shared with the Chinese side by the Indian Army,” he had said.
Arunachal East MP Tapir Gao had on January 19 claimed that the 17-year-old Miram Taron was abducted by the PLA troops from Lungta Jor area under Siyungla area of Bishing village in Upper Siang on January 18 when he had gone hunting along with his friend, Johny Yaying (27), who escaped from the PLA and reported to the authorities.
It may be mentioned that China had initially denied reports of his alleged abduction. However, the Chinese PLA confirmed that a ‘missing’ boy was found on their side of the border and sought details from the Indian side to establish his identity.
In September 2020 too, the PLA had reportedly abducted five youths from Arunachal’s Upper Subansiri district after they allegedly strayed into Chinese territory and released them after about a week. (UNI)