Arunachal Police team sent to investigate media reports of 5 men abducted by Chinese army

According to Arunachal Times, a leading local newspaper, five people of Tagin community were taken away by the Chinese army while they were hunting in the forest near the town of Nacho.

The news, reportedly, was based on a social media post by the relatives of one of the five men, who claimed that they were abducted by China's People's Liberation Army or PLA. The post was widely shared with Arunachal Pradesh Congress MLA and former MP Ninong Ering endorsing the claim and adding that a similar incident had also happened a few months back.

The persons who have reportedly been abducted by the Chinese army are Tanu Bakar, Prasat Ringling, Ngaru Diri, Dongtu Ebiya and Toch Singkam.

He tweeted, "SHOCKING NEWS: Five people from Upper Subansiri district of our state Arunachal Pradesh have reportedly been ‘abducted’ by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Few months earlier, a similar incident happened. A befitting reply must be given to #PLA and #CCPChina."

"We got to know about the incident from media reports and social media post. We have discussed the matter with the police headquarters and we have dispatched a team led by the officer-in-charge of the Nacho police station to the area to verify the facts," Upper Subansiri's Superintendent of Police Taru Gussar told NDTV over phone.

"So far there has been no formal police complaint of this but since the matter is sensitive, we have sent our men to ascertain the facts with the villagers and relatives. In the past also such incidents have happened in these areas. We have taken this seriously," he said.

The Arunachal Times report also said that two other villagers, who had accompanied the kidnapped men and managed to escape, related the incident.

Member of Parliament from Arunachal East and top BJP leader Tapir Gao also tweeted saying, "5 Tagin youths have reportedly been abducted by China's #PLA from Sera7 area below the McMahon Line under Indian territory in Upper Subansiri in Arunachal since 3rd Sept. Similar incident happened in March. Time to take a stand against #CCP (Sic)".

The Nacho town from where the police team has been sent on foot to the forward area village is 125 km away from Daporijo, the headquarters of Upper Subansiri districts of Arunachal Pradesh while Doporjio, is about 280 km from Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh’s capital.