The army has successfully facilitated the safe return of a youth from Arunachal Pradesh who had reportedly crossed over to the Chinese side in search of herbs on March 19.

According to reports, the youth, Togley Singkam, and two of his friends had gone to collect herbs in the Asapila sector near the McMahon Line in Upper Subansiri district.

The McMahon Line demarcates the boundary between Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh. The northeastern state shares a 1,030km boundary with China.

While Singkam was reportedly picked up by Chinese security personnel from Asapila sector, his friends managed to escape.

A statement from defence public relations officer Lt Col P. Khongsai said, “After the incident came to light, the Indian army immediately swung into action and approached the Chinese side utilising the established border management mechanism.”

“Owing to peace and tranquillity that exists in the region and the bonhomie that has developed between both the border guarding forces, Singkam was handed over to the Indian Army on Tuesday,” Col Khongsai said, adding that the return of the youth had come as a relief to his family members and the people of the area.

The youth has been quarantined by the army in view of Covid-19 and will be handed over to his family after 14 days, the officer said.

Several organisations had earlier appealed to the state government to take up the matter with the Centre for the safe release of the youth.

The Siyum Nacho Limeking Taksing Students Union had threatened to launch a democratic movement in Itanagar, demanding the release of the youth.

Patient asymptomatic

The lone Covid-19 positive patient in Arunachal Pradesh, kept in isolation at the zonal general hospital at Tezu in Lohit district, was doing well, health officials said on Tuesday. District medical officer Dr Sajinglu Chai Pul said the doctors and nursing staff are constantly monitoring thepatient. “He is still asymptomatic and without any physical discomfort,” Pul said.

A man from Medo in Lohit district, who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Nizamuddin in New Delhi, had tested positive for Covid-19 on April 1. The state police have so far traced 23 people who had participated in the event last month.

Meanwhile, the state government has constituted a board to examine the feasibility of adopting the rapid test kit (RTK) approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research for use in management of Covid-19.

The feasibility of adopting CBNAAT (cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test) for diagnosing the disease would also be examined simultaneously by the board, official sources said here on Tuesday.

Additional reporting by PTI