PLA of China

Itanagar, Jan 21: The Indian Army contacted the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China through the hotline and sought the return of abducted Arunachal Pradesh teenager Miram Taron. This is the second such incident since 2020 and China is using this tactic to buttress its “claim” on Arunachal Pradesh.

The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi is keeping a close watch on the development

Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu told media persons in Itanagar, “The defense ministry has taken up the matter. I am optimistic that the youth will be released and return to his village soon.”

Arunachal health minister Alo Libang, who is also the local MLA, said this incident took place on January 18. The youth belonged to Zido and was a hunter. “The Army and the Centre have taken up the matter. We hope that the youth will return soon.”

Arunachal BJP MP Tapir Gao had tweeted, “Chinese #PLA has abducted Sh Miram Taron, 17 years of Zido vill. yesterday 18th Jan 2022 from inside Indian territory, Lungta Jor area (China-built 3-4 km road inside India in 2018) under Siyungla area (Bishing village) of Upper Siang dist, Arunachal Pradesh.”

In September 2020, the PLA had kidnapped five boys from Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Subansiri district and released them after about a week.

Also Read: PLA of China abducts 17-yr-old boy from Indian Territory in Arunachal: BJP MP Tapir Gao

Beijing claims 90,000 sq km of areas in Arunachal Pradesh as part of the territory of China and calls it Zangnan or south Tibet. Recently, China renamed 15 places in Arunachal Pradesh to reaffirm its claim on the state.

The 15 places, which the Chinese Government renamed, included eight residential places, four mountains, two rivers, and a mountain pass in Arunachal Pradesh.

In October, China introduced a new Land Border Law, which will come into force on January 1, 2022.