Arunachal man crosses into China looking for herbs, returns after 19-day detention

Togley Singkam (21) had reportedly crossed over to the Tibet autonomous region of China on March 19 while collecting herbs along the Indo-China border area in the remote Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Updated on: Apr 7, 2020, 18:26:31 IST

Hindustan Times, Guwahati | By Utpal Parashar

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A 21-year-old man from Arunachal Pradesh who crossed over to China in search of herbs last month and was detained by Chinese authorities was brought back after 19 days on Tuesday after the Indian Army intervened.

Indian and Chinese soldiers at Bumla along the Indo-China border in Arunachal Pradesh. (PTI FILE PHOTO)

Togley Singkam had reportedly crossed over to the Tibet autonomous region of China on March 19 while collecting herbs along the Indo-China border area in the remote Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh along with two other friends

He was picked up the same day Chinese security agencies while his friends managed to escape.

“When the incident came to light, the Indian Army immediately swung into action and approached the Chinese side using the established border management mechanism,” the army said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Owing to peace and tranquillity in the region and the bonhomie that has developed between both the border guarding forces, Singkam was handed over to the Indian Army on April 7,” it added.

According to the army, the youth has been placed under quarantine in view of the Covid-19 outbreak and will be handed over to his family after 14 days.

Arunachal Pradesh has reported one coronavirus case so far.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More