Five Indian nationals who were allegedly abducted by the Chinese army from a bordering village in Arunachal Pradesh have been released by China. They returned to India on Saturday afternoon.

The five villagers from a remote village in Arunachal Pradesh have entered India with the Army personnel accompanying them. The handover took place at Wacha near Kibithu area in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday.

Indian Army has now taken the custody of all five men in Kibithu after completing all formalities. The individuals will now be quarantined for 14 days as per Covid-19 protocol and will thereafter be handed over to their families.

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 Govt of India and the Indian Army for their persistent effort in securing their return. @PMOIndia @adgpi

— Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (@PemaKhanduBJP) September 12, 2020

The PLA on Tuesday had conveyed that the five youths, who went missing on September 4 from the Sino-Indian border in Upper Subansiri district, were found by them across the border.

The incident of these 5 missing men came to light when two members from the group, who went hunting in the jungle, returned home and informed the families that they were whisked away by the Chinese troops from Sera-7, an Army patrol zone located about 12 km further north of Nacho.

Nacho is the last administrative circle along the McMahon line and is around 120 km from the district headquarters Daporijo.

The release of the 5 Indian nationals come amid the ongoing tension between India and China over the Ladakh border dispute where troops of the two countries have been engaged in a prolonged faceoff.