New Delhi, August 4: Two men from Arunachal Pradesh, Batelum Tikro (35) and his cousin Bainsi Manyu (37), have been missing for nearly two years from a remote area near the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The pair reportedly disappeared on August 19, 2022, while foraging for medicinal herbs in the Chaglagam area of Anjaw district.
Tikro’s brother, Dishanso Chikro, has claimed that the two men are in the custody of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). “I have come to know that they were detained by the Chinese army,” he told PTI. He added that the Indian Army had raised the issue with their Chinese counterparts, but there has been no response to date.
Anjaw MLA and State Women and Child Development Minister, Dasanglu Pul, confirmed the disappearance and expressed hope that the men are still alive. “I have no idea about the response from the Chinese side during the flag meetings. The parents of the men keep urging us to take action. We are currently helpless and hope they will return home safely and soon,” Pul told PTI.
The men were last seen in late August 2022, shortly after their disappearance was reported to Hayuliang police station on October 9, 2022. Despite claims that some villagers might have seen them near the border, no further information has surfaced since their disappearance.
This case is unusual as it marks the longest period that missing persons from Arunachal Pradesh have remained unaccounted for, surpassing previous cases where individuals were typically returned within days or weeks.
The disappearance occurs amid heightened tensions between India and China, particularly in eastern Ladakh, where diplomatic and military relations have been strained. The incident highlights the continuing friction between the two nations and raises concerns about the safety and handling of individuals along the disputed border regions.
