• Arunachal boy returned by Chinese Army: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju

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    Arunachal boy returned by Chinese Army: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju
    Digital Desk: As per Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Arunachal boy held captive by the Chinese PLA has been returned to India. On Thursday, Kiren Rijiju announced that the boy Miram Taron had been turned over to the Indian Army.

    Rijiju tweeted, saying, "The Chinese PLA has handed over the young boy from Arunachal Pradesh Shri Miram Taron to Indian Army. Due procedures are being followed including the medical examination."

    On Wednesday, he had mentioned that the PLA had confirmed that Taron "will be repatriated to the Indian side," adding, "will disclose the exact place & time later for smooth proceeding. Accordingly, the Indian Army has coordinated the necessary arrangements with the Chinese Side."

    The young man had gone missing on January 18, which was brought to light by state BJP MP Tapir Gao, who claimed that Taron had been kidnapped by the PLA from Indian territory, a claim that Taron's parents echoed.

    Rijiju, on the other hand, stated on Wednesday that while the PLA had located the soldier on the Chinese Side, severe weather had caused his return to be delayed. He tweeted that "on Republic Day, Indian Army exchanged a hotline with Chinese PLA," which "responded favorably signaling handing over of our national and suggested a release location." They will most likely share a date and time in the near future. The delay was caused by inclement weather on their end."

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    Global Times, a newspaper affiliated with the Chinese government, quoted PLA's Western Theatre Commander on Thursday, saying, "after providing humanitarian aid, Chinese border defense troops turned over" an Indian citizen who had entered the "Chinese territory illegally to the Indian side".

    Rijiju had said earlier, "Some people reported that Chinese PLA had taken him into their custody. Since the individual was missing from an area close to LAC (Line of Control), Indian Army immediately approached Chinese Side on January 19 asking for assistance in tracing and return of the individual, in case he had strayed into the Chinese territory or PLA has taken him in their custody."

    Rijiju had previously urged everyone to exercise caution when making assertions that are not founded on facts, stating that the safety and return of our young Arunachal boy was his top priority.