China's PLA hands over 'missing' Arunachal teen to Indian Army: Union minister

New Delhi: Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday informed that China's People's Liberation Army has handed over the missing boy named Miran Taron from Arunachal Pradesh to the Indian Army. "Due procedures are being followed including the medical examination," Rijiju also said on Twitter.

China's People Liberation Army, or PLA, had earlier confirmed that Mr Taron would be repatriated to the Indian side. There was a delay earlier in repatriating him due to bad weather conditions in the mountainous area.

On January 25, Mr Rijiju tweeted a statement that said some people reported that the Chinese PLA has taken Mr Taron into their custody.

The minister on Tuesday said the safe return of the boy is a priority and had appealed to people to be cautious in making statements about him.

The teen went missing from an area close to the LAC and the Indian Army had immediately approached the Chinese side on January 19, asking for assistance in tracing and returning the teen, in case the PLA had taken him in their custody.

An eyewitness, Johnny Yuing, who went with Mr Taron on that day, had said, "I went with Miriam for hunting at Siyangla area but due to darkness we couldn't proceed. Suddenly, Chinese PLA came and took Miriam in their captivity. They chased me but I managed to flee the area. I informed the nearest Indian army check post about the abduction. The next day, I returned to Tuting and informed Miriam's family members and the Indian Army camp at Tuting."

China claimed the teen "illegally" entered into Chinese territory, news agency Reuters reported. The individual "illegally entered Chinese territory and then was routinely questioned, quarantined and observed in accordance with relevant border control regulations, and given humanitarian assistance," China's Western Theatre Command, Colonel Long Shaohua, said in a statement posted on the official WeChat account of the Western Theatre of the PLA.