China to hand over 5 missing men from Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday

New Delhi, Sept 12: The Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju informed that the Chinese People Liberation Army (PLA) is likely to hand over the five Indian nationals, who were missing from Arunachal Pradesh to Indian authorities on Saturday.

 

 

"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," Rijiju said in a tweet.

 

 

Indian Army sources said that the handover will take place at Wacha near Kibithu border personnel meeting point in Arunachal Pradesh. Earlier, the Indian Army confirmed, "As a result of the persistent efforts of the Indian Army, five missing hunters from the Indian side of LAC in Upper Subansiri, who had inadvertently crossed over to another side on September 2 2020, have been traced."

 

On Tuesday, Rijiju also informed, "China's PLA has responded to the hotline message sent by the Indian Army. They have confirmed that the missing youths from Arunachal Pradesh have been found by their side. Further modalities to handover the persons to our authority is being worked out."

 

The five youths who were missing since September 1, were part of a group that had gone hunting in a forest in Upper Subansiri district. All of them belong to the Tagin community, the dominant tribe in the region. Their missing comes in the backdrop of the rising tensions between China and India in eastern Ladakh.