CORRESPONDENT
ITANAGAR: Two locals, namely Bateilum Tikro and his friend Bayingso Manyu, residents of Duiliang village under Hayuliang-Goiliang circle of Anjaw district in Arunachal Pradesh, have been reported missing from Chaglagam circle along the Indo-China border area since August 24 last, according to a senior police officer.
Anjaw district superintendent of police Rike Kamsi informed that the family members in their statements on Saturday said that both of them had left their native village on August 19 in search of local medicinal herbs and hunting, at high altitude hills along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
"Other villagers had seen them near the Indo-China border on August 24 last. As their return was delayed, they searched to trace them in and around the international border and many other possible locations, but all their tireless physical and mental efforts had gone in vain to ascertain the fact about their missing," the SP said.
They have also lodged an FIR in this regard with Khupa police station under Hayuliang circle, the official said.
Dishanso Chikro, younger brother of Tikro, when contacted disclosed that they have drawn the attention of Hayuliang assembly constituency MLA Dasanglu Pul in a letter at Hayuliang on Thursday.
"We family members suspect that both might have crossed the LAC inadvertently and might have been detained by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China. We are tense and waiting for good news," Chikro said.
The latest incident came at a time when the Indian Army continues to be engaged in a stand-off with PLA in Eastern Ladakh since May 2020. There have been 14 rounds of military-level talks between India and China to resolve the standoff.
"We will submit a report to the state government after examining the witnesses, family members and the villagers living near the border. It is common for the locals to explore forests in search of medicinal herbs," the SP said.
Kamsi said the boys could be taking shelter somewhere within the Indian territory near the border.
"It takes up to 12 days to reach the site from Goiliang on foot," the police official said, adding, assistance from PLA has been seeking to locate the duo on their side and return them as per established protocol.
In January this year, 17-year-old Miram Taron, a youth from the state's Upper Siang district, had inadvertently crossed over into China while going out in search of medicinal plants in a forest near the border.
He was captured by Chinese soldiers and freed a few days later after India had taken up his case at a higher level.
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