The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), on Thursday, handed over the missing boy from Arunachal Pradesh Miram Taron to the Indian Army. The development was confirmed by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. “I thank our proud Indian Army for pursuing the case meticulously with PLA and safely securing our young boy back home,” Kiren Rijiju said in a tweet.

Taron had gone missing on January 18. While China had initially denied reports of his alleged abduction, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) confirmed that a missing boy was found on their side of the border.

On January 20, the Chinese side also sought details from the Indian side to establish the identity of the missing Arunachali youth. Subsequently, the Indian Army shared personal details of Miram Taron to confirm his identity.

Indian-Chinese armies exchanged hotline call

On Tuesday, the PLA also confirmed that Taron would be repatriated to the Indian side. In fact, the Indian and Chinese armies had held a hotline discussion regarding the missing boy and decided to finalize the time and place for his repatriation.

The Indian Army had immediately approached the Chinese side on January 19 as Taron went missing near the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Indian side had sought assistance from the PLA in tracing and return of the individual.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had slammed the government over the disappearance of the Arunachal Pradesh youth. “Just days ahead of Republic day the Chinese have abducted an Indian citizen, we are with the family of Meeram Taron, and we will not lose hope and will not accept defeat. But Prime Minister’s silence is his statement that it does not bother him,” Gandhi had said in a tweet in Hindi.