Arunachal boy disappeared, requested PLA to help: Army

The Indian Army requested assistance from China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Thursday in locating and returning a missing youngster named Miran Taron from Arunachal Pradesh, according to news agency ANI. According to ANI, the Army alerted the PLA as soon as it received information about the missing 17-year-old.

The PLA abducted the teenager, a native of Zido village in Upper Siang district, on Tuesday, according to officials. The incident occurred while the youth and others were hunting along the border between the two countries, according to the district officials.

The newest incident occurs in eastern Ladakh, where the Indian Army has been at odds with the PLA since April 2020.

Both sides have had 14 rounds of military-level negotiations so far, but no settlement has been reached.

In eastern Ladakh, the disengagement process is due in the areas of Hot Springs, Depsang bulge, and Demchok. Along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, each side has between 50,000 and 60,000 troops.

Rahul Gandhi, a senior Congressman, had blasted the Centre earlier in the day over the missing youngster. "The future of India is abducted by China just days before Republic Day. We stand with Miram Taroun's family, and we will not give up hope, nor will we accept defeat. PM's deafening silence is a declaration that he doesn't give a damn!" Gandhi sent out a tweet.

It's worth noting that the tweet was sent out hours before the Indian Army released a statement about the incident.

According to sources in the defence establishment, when the Indian Army learned of Taron's whereabouts, it promptly informed the PLA via a hotline established by the PLA, notifying them that an individual who was collecting herbs and hunting had lost his way and could not be traced.

According to reports, PLA assistance has been sought to identify the guy on their side and return him in accordance with established protocol.