Two Arunachal Men Missing Along India-China Border for Two Years

Two men from Arunachal Pradesh have been missing for nearly two years from a remote location along the India-China border. Believed to be in the custody of the People’s Liberation Army, the duo's whereabouts remain unknown despite efforts by local authorities and families to seek information.

Two men from Arunachal Pradesh have been missing for nearly two years from a remote location in the state along the India-China border and are believed to be in the custody of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), which so far has not acknowledged the duo’s presence in their territory.

Batelum Tikro (35) and his cousin Bainsi Manyu (37) went missing from the Chaglagam area in the Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh on August 19, 2022, while looking for medicinal herbs at a high-altitude area along the border with China. Since then, they have not been found.

Dishanso Chikro, Tikro’s brother, told PTI over the phone that he learned the Chinese army detained them. Chikro said he approached local army authorities several times to seek information about his brothers.

“I am told that the issue was raised by the Indian Army with their Chinese counterparts. But no response has come so far,” he said.

Anjaw MLA and State’s Women and Child Development Minister Dasanglu Pul confirmed that the duo went missing along the border while looking for medicinal herbs. She mentioned that the Chinese side had not acknowledged their custody but indicated the youths are still alive.

After they went missing, Chikro lodged two complaints of missing persons at Hayuliang police station in October 2022, mentioning that some villagers might have last seen them in border areas but there has been no sign since August 24, 2022.

Tikro is unmarried, whereas Manyu has a wife and two very young children. Anjaw district Zila Parishad Chairman Soblem Pul stated that local Army authorities raised the issue of the two men with the Chinese army during flag meetings. However, he was unaware of the Chinese side’s response.

This incident marks the first time that no whereabouts have been found for two missing persons for almost two years. Similar past incidents saw residents return after a few days or weeks. The latest case comes amid continuing tensions between the Indian Army and the PLA in eastern Ladakh.

India and China share a 3,400 km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh. India has repeatedly rejected China's territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that the state is an integral part of India. Nevertheless, China terms Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet and objects to Indian leaders' visits to the state.