The Chinese People’s Liberation Army has returned Arunachal Pradesh youth Miram Taron, who had been missing since last week when he had gone hunting with a friend.

“The Chinese PLA handed over the young boy from Arunachal Pradesh Shri Miram Taron to the Indian Army at WACHA-DAMAI interaction point in Arunachal Pradesh today. I thank our proud Indian Army for pursuing the case meticulously with the PLA and safely securing our young boy back home,” Union minister Kiren Rijiju tweeted on Thursday.

He said due procedures were being followed, including a medical examination of Taron.

Chinese state media Global Times confirmed the release of the Indian youth “who illegally entered Chinese territory”.

“The Indian military sent a request for assistance in searching and the two sides kept communication through border defence meeting channels,” the Global Times tweeted.

Rijiju had on Wednesday said the PLA had found the boy on the Chinese side but bad weather had delayed his return. He had tweeted: “Hotline exchanged on Republic Day by the Indian Army with Chinese PLA. PLA responded positively indicating handing over of our national and suggested a place of release. They are likely to intimate date and time soon.”

Last week Rijiju’s party colleague and BJP MP from Arunachal Pradesh Tapir Gao had alleged on Twitter that the Chinese PLA had abducted Taron on January 18 from the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control.