The five Indians, who had gone missing from villages near the China border earlier this month were handed over to India by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on Saturday. In a statement, PRO Defence, Tezpur said, “Indian Army took over all five individuals (missing from Arunachal Pradesh) at Kibitu today after completing all formalities. Individuals will now be quarantined for 14 days as per COVID-19 protocol and will thereafter be handed over to their family members.”
Following their return, all the five men entered Arunachal Pradesh through the Kibithu border post. Earlier on Friday, Union minister Kiren Rijiju had said the PLA is likely to hand over the five youths missing from Arunachal Pradesh to the Indian authorities on Saturday.
The PLA on Tuesday had conveyed that the five youths, who went missing on September 4 from the Sino-Indian border in Upper Subansiri district, were found by them across the border.
“The Chinese PLA has confirmed to the Indian Army to hand over the youths from Arunachal Pradesh to our side. The handing over is likely to take place anytime tomorrow i.e. 12th September 2020 at a designated location,” Rijiju had tweeted on Friday.