Itanagar: The abduction of 17-year-old Arunachal boy Miram Taron by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) took place inside Indian Territory on January 18 and the youths had not crossed the border, sources from Upper Siang district told EastMojo on Thursday.
“Miram Taron (17), along with his friend Jhonny Yaying (27), had gone hunting at the Lungta Jor area near Bishing village and it was almost dark when the Chinese soldiers surrounded them. While Yaying managed to escape, the whereabouts of Taron are yet to be established,” the source said.
The source also claimed to have spoken to Yaying, who supposedly narrated the incident to him.
“We understand that there is no physical boundary dividing India and China, but he (Yaying) is certain that they were inside Indian land when the PLA surrounded them,” the source said.
17-year-old Arunachal boy ‘abducted’ by Chinese PLA
Both Taron and Yaying are natives of Zido village in Upper Siang district.
The abduction of the Arunachalee youth from Indian Territory comes at a time when the Center, as well as the Arunachal Pradesh government, have repeatedly denied any kind of Chinese incursions in Arunachal.
Incidentally, Arunachal Pradesh Lok Sabha MP Tapir Gao, who was the first person to share the information of the youth being taken captive by the PLA on Wednesday, had also alleged that the abduction had taken place inside Indian Territory.
Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,129 kilometer long border with China-occupied Tibet. China claims Arunachal to be a part of South Tibet and therefore a part of China.
Meanwhile, the Indian Army on Thursday informed that it has contacted its Chinese counterpart and assistance has been sought to locate and return the Aruanchalee youth.
Arunachal boy’s abduction: Indian Army seeks help from China’s PLA
“17 yr old youth Miram Tarom of #Zido #ArunachalPradesh was reportedly captured by #PLA across the LAC. On receipt of info, #IndianArmy imdtly contacted #PLA through #hotline. Assistance from #PLA has been sought to locate & return him as per protocol,” the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Defence, Tezpur said in a tweet on Thursday afternoon.
Upper Siang superintendent of police Jummar Basar informed EastMojo that the matter has already been escalated to the higher authorities from their level.
“The operation area falls under the Indian Army so the matter will be dealt with at a higher level. From our side, we have already escalated the same to the police headquarters,” the SP said.
Congress MLA and former union minister Ninong Ering has appealed to the Centre to ensure the safe return of Taron.
“We have nothing to do with China and both the ministries of external affairs and defence should take immediate and appropriate action so as to ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future,” Ering said.
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