China calls for immediate return of soldier held by India, says he went astray 'due to darkness'

NEW DELHI: China has called for the immediate return of the Chinese soldier captured by India near Gurung hill in Chushul sector of eastern Ladakh on Friday. A news portal run by the military's official PLA Daily, said the Chinese soldier went astray "due to darkness and complicated geography".

"Due to darkness and complicated geography, a soldier of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) frontier defense force went astray in the China-India border early Friday morning, and the PLA frontier defense force notified the Indian side of the information the first time, hoping the Indian side could assist in search and rescue of the lost Chinese soldier," China Military Online said.

It said India confirmed the capture of the Chinese soldier nearly two hours after he went missing. The news portal said India also said the Chinese soldier would be returned to China after "receiving instructions from the superior authority".

China Military Online added that Indian authorities should "promptly transfer" the soldier back to China and "jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the border area".

The Indian Army on Friday apprehended a Chinese soldier near Gurung hill in Chushul sector of eastern Ladakh on Friday morning. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldier apparently lost his way and entered the Indian territory inadvertently.

In an official statement, the Indian Army said, "The PLA soldier had transgressed across the LAC and was taken into custody by Indian troops deployed in this area." The army said the Chinese soldier is "being dealt with as per laid down procedures". It said the circumstances under which the Chinese soldier had crossed the LAC are being investigated.