Guwahati: Arunachal Pradesh Congress MLA Ninong Ering on Saturday claimed that five people from the frontier state have been abducted by the Chinese army.
According to the MLA, China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) abducted five people from the Subasiri district in the state.
"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)," Ering tweeted earlier today.
Ering also attached a screenshot of a Facebook post that named the list of people who have reportedly been kidnapped by the PLA. However, Ering, however, did not specify when the 5 people have been kidnapped.
Adding that a similar incident had occurred a few months back, Ering said that a "befitting reply" must be given to China.
Meanwhile, police sources have confirmed that 5 youths have indeed disappeared and efforts are on to locate them. The youths reportedly went missing yesterday.
It may be recalled that a 21-year-old man was abducted by China's People's Liberation Army on March 19 from the Asapila sector near the McMahon line in Upper Subansiri district. He was later released after the intervention of the Indian side.
The Congress MLA's claim comes at a time when tensions have risen again in eastern Ladakh after China's unsuccessful attempt to occupy Indian territory in the southern bank of the contested Pangong lake.
India occupied a number of strategic heights on the southern bank of Pangong lake and strengthened its presence in Finger 2 and Finger 3 areas in the region to thwart any Chinese actions. However, India has maintained that the strategic heights are on its side of the LAC. China has strongly objected to India's move..
Amid the ongoing strife, India has bolstered its presence in the region after China's fresh attempts to change the status quo in the southern bank of the Pangong lake. Additional troops and weapons have been rushed to the area after Chinese attempts at transgression.