China likely to inform time of handover of Arunachal youth soon: Rijiju

Over a week after a youth was reported to be missing from Arunachal Pradesh, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju announced on Wednesday China would inform the date and time of his handover soon.

MP Tapir Gao had tweeted last week that Miram Taron was abducted by the PLA from Lungta Jor under Siyungla area. Rijiju tweeted on Wednesday the Indian Army had exchanged information on the issue with the PLA on their hotline. He attributed the delay in handover of the youth to bad weather on the Chinese side.

Rijiju tweeted on Wednesday “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.”

On Tuesday, Rijiju, a native of Arunachal Pradesh, had revealed China had informed the Indian Army that the PLA had found a youth on their side of the Line of Actual Control on January 20 and requested details to establish his identity.

Rijiju informed on Tuesday that the Indian Army had provided “personal details and photo” of the youth to China. While initial reports said the Taron was 17 years old, Rijiju informed he was 19.

Rijiju said that since the individual was missing from an area close to the LAC, the Indian Army immediately approached the Chinese side on January 19, asking for assistance in tracing and return of the individual, in case he had strayed into the Chinese territory or PLA had taken him in their custody.

The status of Taron had become a political issue given the ongoing tension over the LAC. Rahul Gandhi had tweeted about Taron, demanding the Narendra Modi government do its duty and bring him back.