Five youths who were allegedly abducted by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China near the McMahon line in Arunachal Pradesh

Itanagar: Five youths who were allegedly abducted by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China near the McMahon line in Arunachal Pradesh's Upper Subansiri were released on Saturday.

The youths -- Tanu Bakar, Prasad Ringling, Ngaru Diri, Dongtu Ebiya and Toch Singkam were handed over to the Indian Army by the PLA after completion of necessary formalities, Tezpur-based defence spokesperson Lt Col Harsh Warrdhan Pande said.

India and China

"All five of them will now be placed under quarantine for 14 days as per Covid-19 protocols and thereafter be handed over to their family members," the spokesperson said.

Taking to Twitter, Chief Minister Pema Khandu thanked the Army and the Union government for securing their return.

"Absolutely glad to know that five of our Arunachali youths have been safely handed over to Indian Army by Chinese PLA. I am wholeheartedly thankful to the (Union) Govt and the Indian Army for their persistent effort in securing their return," he posted on the microblogging site.

Pema Khandu

The development comes amid a prolonged border face-off between India and China in eastern Ladakh.

Five of seven youths, who went hunting on September 2, were allegedly whisked away by the Chinese troops.

The youths, engaged as porters by the Indian Army, were reported missing by their families on social media.