China on Thursday denied any knowledge of the reported abduction of 17-year-old Miram Taron from Arunachal Pradesh's Upper Siang district. However, the PLA controls borders and cracks down on illegal entry and exit activities, China's Foreign Ministry said. Taron was abducted by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) from Lungta Jor area under Siyungla area on Tuesday, said Arunachal Pradesh MP Tapir Gao.
The youth was abducted from within Indian territory, said Gao. Johny Yaiying, Taron's friend, managed to escape. Yaiying then informed the authorities about the kidnapping, Gao explained.
"I don't know the situation," said a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing when asked about the alleged abduction.
"The Chinese People's Liberation Army controls borders in accordance with the law and cracks down on illegal entry and exit activities," the spokesperson said even as the Indian army has sought assistance from the PLA to locate the missing boy on their side and return him as per protocol.
The Indian Army contacted the PLA through an established mechanism of hotline informing that an individual who was collecting herbs and hunting had lost his way and gone missing, said sources in the defence establishment.