Chader's missing issue taken with China: Govt

Itanagar, Jan 21: BJP MP Kiren Rijiju today said that the External Affairs Ministry had informed him that it had taken up the case of missing villager Chabe Chader with the Chinese authorities.

Chabe Chader, a villager of Gumsing Taying under Taksing circle of Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh, is reportedly missing from Asaphila border area since August 18 last year.

Responding to Mr Rijiju's letter, Joint Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry Ashok K Kantha said the matter had been ''taken up through the diplomatic channels as well as through a flag meeting, border personnel meeting and the hotline at Bumla.

''We have sought information about Chander in case the Chinese side is aware of it,''he wrote in the letter, a copy of which was given to mediapersons today.

Stressing the Centre was fully vigilant about the need to safeguard country's territorial integrity and vital national interests and appropriate steps are taken for the management of the borders, Mr Kantha said infrastructure development, including road connectivity in border areas, was being given special attention, both from the perspective of taking the benefits of development to local inhabitants and border areas.

For improving the management of our borders several road schemes have been undertaken in Arunachal, he said.

Regarding the Chinese Ambassador's statement last November on the status of Arunachal, the letter informed that External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had unambiguously rejected the Chinese contention, stating that ''Arunachal is an integral part of India''.

''The matter was also taken up with the Chinese government through our Ambassador in Beijing and our disappointment and concern over the Chinese statement has been clearly conveyed,'' Mr Kantha wrote in the letter.

UNI

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