China abducts 5 Arunachal porters

Amid escalating border tension with China in Ladakh, a report that five Arunachalee youths serving as porters for the Indian Army were allegedly been abducted by the Peoples’ Liberation Army (PLA) of China on Thursday has created tension on the eastern frontier though there is no official confirmation of it yet.

Reports claim that the family members of the porters came to know about the incident through a wireless message of Indian Army. It said, “Five persons have been abducted by the Chinese Army at the Sera-7 area near McMahon line.” The kin of those missing then took to the social media to raise awareness and ensure their safe return.

The Upper Subansiri district administration said that they have not received any complaint or information in this regard, but have taken note of social media reports and asked police to go to the frontier areas where the incident is reported to have taken place.

Deputy commissioner of Upper Subansiri, Kento Danggen, told this newspaper, “We have not received any complaint or even information about such an incident so far. Following the hype created on social media we have asked police to rush officers to the areas where these incidents are reported to have taken place. We are also trying to reach out to the Indian Army.”

Mr Danggen said that they are also in the process of reaching out to the villages and villagers who reported this incident in social media posts.

Security sources in the intelligence wing, engaged in global border management, said that Indian Army headquarters have also been establishing contact with the patrolling teams operating in remote areas along the MacMohan line to verify the villagers’ claim. The incident came to light through WhatsApp messages in Arunachal Pradesh.