Srinagar, January 27: The Chinese People Liberation Army (PLA) has said that it has returned the Indian boy from the state of Arunachal Pradesh after quizzing him.
The Indian personnel was found by the Chinese border defense troops in a recent patrol in Medog County of Xizang, China, Senior Colonel Long Shaohua, a spokesperson at the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Western Theater Command, said in a statement released on Thursday.
According to relevant regulations on border management and control, the Chinese border defense troops carried out a routine inquiry and an epidemic prevention quarantine, and provided humanitarian aid, Long said.
Kiren Rijju, minister for law and justice, who hails from Arunchal Pradesh also confirmed the release of the boy.
“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,” Rijju wrote in a tweet.
In another tweet sharing picture of the handing over of the boys to Indian authorities, he wrote:
“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”.
The boy, Miram Taron went missing on January 18 from Arunachal Pradesh.
The individual was returned following discussions between the Indian military and the Chinese side after India first asked China to assist in a search, Shaohua, a spokesperson at the Chinese PLA Army Western Theater Command, said, adding, the Indian military sent a request to the Chinese side for assistance in searching for the person through the border defense hotline.
The two sides communicated through border defense meeting channels, Long said, noting that the Indian has already been turned over to the Indian side.
“We urge the Indian side to strictly abide by the bilateral protocols and agreements, enhance personnel management and control, and practically safeguard the normal order in the border region,” Long said.