Close X
Friday, November 1, 2024
ADVT 
International

Chinese Soldier, Who Accidentally Crossed Border And Came To India, Returns Home After 54 Years

IANS, 11 Feb, 2017 02:14 PM
    A Chinese soldier, who was stuck in India for over 50 years after he crossed over the border post 1962 war, today arrived in Beijing with his Indian family members to an emotional reunion with his Chinese kin.
     
    Wang Qi, 77, was received by his close Chinese relatives, besides officials of the China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Indian embassy when he arrived here along with his son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter from Delhi-Beijing flight.
     
    Wang Qi became emotional as he hugged his relatives, their first reunion after he crossed into Indian side over five decades ago.
     
    "It was an emotional reunion," an official present at the airport told PTI here.
     
    Wang Qi was accompanied by his son Vishnu Wang, 35, daughter-in-law Neha and granddaughter, Khanak Wang. His Indian wife Shushila, however, stayed back.
     
    Indian officials said Wang Qi and family members will be later flown to Xian, the provincial capital in Shaanxi province from where he will be taken to his native village Xue Zhai Nan Cun in the province.
     
     
    His return became a possibility after India and China worked out modalities for both Wang Qi and his Indian family to travel together to China and later return as per their wish.
     
    Wang Qi was caught when he entered the Indian territory shortly after the Sino-India War of 1962.
     
     
    After his release from prison in 1969, he settled in Tirodi village of Balaghat district in Madhya Pradesh.
     
    Though his story has been published by Indian media several times in the past, a recent BBC TV feature on him was widely picked by the Chinese social media highlighting his plight, prompting the Chinese government to initiate action in coordination with India to facilitate his return.
     
    The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on February 6 that he was provided a passport to travel to China in 2013 and he was also paid a living allowance.
     
    Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui recently spoke to him.
     
    While the Chinese government has provided visas for his family to visit China, India has provided a re-entry visa for Wang to return back if he chooses to.
     
    Indian officials terms the facilitation of the travel of Wang and his family by both sides s positive development, specially at a time when India-China relations were stuck with differences over issues like China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, China blocking India's entry into Nuclear Suppliers Group and listing of JeM leader Masood Azhar as terrorist by UN.
     
    Before leaving for Beijing, Vishnu Wang, told media in India yesterday that "my father joined the Chinese Army in 1960 and he entered India through the eastern frontier after losing his way in the darkness one night."
     
     
    He landed in Assam where an Indian Red Cross team handed him over to the Indian Army on January 1, 1963.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    2 Canadians Dead, 2 Injured Among 5 Killed In Mexico Nightclub Shooting

    2 Canadians Dead, 2 Injured Among 5 Killed In Mexico Nightclub Shooting
    Two Canadians were among at least five people killed Monday in a shooting attack at an electronic music festival in Mexico's Caribbean coast resort of Playa del Carmen, Mexican authorities said.

    2 Canadians Dead, 2 Injured Among 5 Killed In Mexico Nightclub Shooting

    After Indian Flag Doormat, Amazon Lists Mahatma Gandhi Flip-Flops For Sale

    After Indian Flag Doormat, Amazon Lists Mahatma Gandhi Flip-Flops For Sale
    Amazon has once again degraded an important Indian symbol - that of the Father of the Nation - by placing it on the ground, below the feet, dishonoring it.

    After Indian Flag Doormat, Amazon Lists Mahatma Gandhi Flip-Flops For Sale

    Watch: Video Catches Nanny Burning Long Island Indian-Origin Boy, 2, With Curling Iron

    Watch: Video Catches Nanny Burning Long Island Indian-Origin Boy, 2, With Curling Iron
    Police arrested Nxumalo, 21, on Thursday and charged her with assault and endangering the welfare of a child

    Watch: Video Catches Nanny Burning Long Island Indian-Origin Boy, 2, With Curling Iron

    Indian American Teen Crushes Indian Woman In Miami To Death With Truck, Arrested

    Indian American Teen Crushes Indian Woman In Miami To Death With Truck, Arrested
    Madhav Sood, was arrested earlier this month for crushing to death another Indian, Florida resident Priya Pachauri, while racing his pickup truck.

    Indian American Teen Crushes Indian Woman In Miami To Death With Truck, Arrested

    Man Pulled Out Gun, Shot Himself At B.C. Hospital ER: Nurses' Union

    Man Pulled Out Gun, Shot Himself At B.C. Hospital ER: Nurses' Union
    BURNABY, B.C. — The union representing B.C. nurses says staff at a hospital in Grand Forks are traumatized after a man walked into an emergency room, pulled out a gun and shot himself Thursday evening.

    Man Pulled Out Gun, Shot Himself At B.C. Hospital ER: Nurses' Union

    Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi To Serve On Two Influential House Panels

    Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi To Serve On Two Influential House Panels
    Indian American Raja Krishnamoorthi, who was sworn in as a Member of the US House of Representatives earlier this month, has said he would be serving on two influential committees.

    Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi To Serve On Two Influential House Panels