China's PLA accused of abducting five youths from Arunachal

Shubhadeep Choudhury                                                                            

Tribune News Service

Kolkata, September 5

Strong action is being sought against China for the alleged step by the PLA of taking five Arunachal Pradesh youths into its custody.

“People of Arunachal Pradesh will be very angry if the Government of India fails to secure the release of the five boys taken into the custody by the PLA,” Ninong Ering, Congress MLA from Pasighat West constituency of Arunachal Pradesh and a former member of the Lok Sabha, today told The Tribune over phone from his home in the state bordering China.

All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU), which claims itself to be an upholder of interest of the local people, also took note of the incident and urged the Army to give a befitting reply to the Chinese.

Lt Col Harsh Wardhan Pande, spokesperson of Army’s Tezpur-headquartered 4 Corps, which oversees operations in Arunachal Pradesh, told The Tribune that they were ascertaining the “veracity of the incident”.

A tweet by Ering this morning first brought to light the alleged incident of “abduction” of the youths by the Chinese Army.

“SHOCKING NEWS: Five people from Upper Subansiri district of our state Arunachal Pradesh have reportedly been ‘abducted’ by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Few months earlier, a similar incident happened. A befitting reply must be given to #PLA and #CCPChina”, Ering tweeted while marking the tweet to @PMOIndia.

SHOCKING NEWS: Five people from Upper Subansiri district of our state Arunachal Pradesh have reportedly been ‘abducted’ by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

Few months earlier,a similar incident happened. A befitting reply must be given to #PLA and #CCPChina. @PMOIndia https://t.co/8gRdGsQfId pic.twitter.com/KbDMJ3bUi2

— Ninong Ering (@ninong_erring) September 4, 2020

The youths, residents of Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh, were allegedly caught by the PLA soldiers from the jungle near Nacho. The youths apparently went inside the jungle to carry loads for the Army as hired porters. After their job was over, they were out fishing when the PLA picked them up.

The missing villagers have been identified as Toch Singkam, Prasat Ringling, Dongtu Ebiya, Tanu Baker and Ngaru Diri. They were allegedly picked up on September 3.

The area where the incident took place is very remote and normally it is not possible for any news to travel outside so fast. Only the Army has the requisite communication network for passing on the news outside. “But the Army is keeping absolutely mum. Guess they have reason for keeping quiet,” Ering said.

The Congress leader said he spoke to the Deputy Commissioner Kanto Danggen in the morning following which personnel were despatched to the youths’ villages to collect information.

The Congress MLA said the incident showcased yet another instance of Chinese forays inside India. “Ordinarily the Chinese would not patrol the area. But lately they have been frequently making incursions – be it Changlang or Dibang Valley or Kibithu,” Ering said.

The Congress leader said when an Arunachalese youth was similarly taken away by the Chinese earlier this year, Delhi swung into action and release of the youth could be secured.

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