China hands over the custody of 5 Indians, missing from Arunachal Pradesh, Chinese media calls them spies
The five Indians who were reportedly captured by the Chinese Army returned to India on Saturday afternoon. But ahead of their release Chinese media called them ‘spies.’
Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh:
The five Indians who went missing from a bordering village in Arunachal Pradesh and were later abducted by Chinese Army have been released by China and were handed over at Wacha near Kibithu, Anjaw district in Arunachal Pradesh.
They returned to India on Saturday 12th September and were accompanied by Army personnel. After completing all the formalities Indian Army took them in custody and the individuals will be quarantined for 14 days as per Covid-19 rules and will be handed over to their families.
The episode of five members being missing came into notice when two members from the group went into the jungle came back and informed the families that they were captured by the Chinese troops from Sera-7, an Army patrol zone. The PLA on Tuesday 8th informed that five youths, who went missing on 4th September from the Sino-Indian border in Upper Subansiri district, were found by them across the border.
Kiren Rijiju adopted the matter and said the Indian army had sent a hotline message to the PLA establishment at the border point in Arunachal Pradesh and that a response is awaited.
Ahead of their release, in Global Times it was reported that the five were “spies” working for the Indian army.
The report said “The five had disguised themselves as “hunters”, the report said, quoting an anonymous source, adding that they were “India’s intelligence staff. They recently trespassed the China-India border and entered the Shannan prefecture of Tibet. The Indian side often sends staff via this means to gather intelligence of China.
This is how it encroaches China-controlled areas. The Chinese side has detained, warned and educated the five persons, who will be released soon.”