Close X
Monday, November 25, 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

    Russian Ambassador To Turkey Shot Dead At Photo Exhibit

    Russian Ambassador To Turkey Shot Dead At Photo Exhibit
    Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov died after being shot by an unidentified gunman here late Monday, the embassy announced.

    Russian Ambassador To Turkey Shot Dead At Photo Exhibit

    'Only Thing I Want For Christmas Is Peace In Syria', 7-Year-Old India-Origin Boy Writes To Santa

    'Only Thing I Want For Christmas Is Peace In Syria', 7-Year-Old India-Origin Boy Writes To Santa
    Aarush Anand's teacher Richard Miller said he was "taken aback" by the heartfelt letter.

    'Only Thing I Want For Christmas Is Peace In Syria', 7-Year-Old India-Origin Boy Writes To Santa

    Vancouver Woman Reunited In Winnipeg With Dog Missing For Three Years

    Vancouver Woman Reunited In Winnipeg With Dog Missing For Three Years
    When Terra McCabe lost her dog Daisy three years ago in Vancouver, she thought her furry friend was gone forever.

    Vancouver Woman Reunited In Winnipeg With Dog Missing For Three Years

    Five Girls Were Killed For Dancing In Pakistan. Then The Story Took An Even Darker Twist.

    Five Girls Were Killed For Dancing In Pakistan. Then The Story Took An Even Darker Twist.
    It was just a few seconds, a video clip of several young women laughing and clapping to music, dressed for a party or a wedding in orange headscarves and robes with floral patterns

    Five Girls Were Killed For Dancing In Pakistan. Then The Story Took An Even Darker Twist.

    Terror Groups Retain Safe Havens In Pakistan: Pentagon

    Afghan-oriented terrorist groups like the Taliban and the Haqqani Network retain freedom of action from inside Pakistani territory, the Pentagon has said, while asserting that the US has been clear in urging Islamabad to deny safe havens to terror outfits.

    Terror Groups Retain Safe Havens In Pakistan: Pentagon

    101-Year-Old British Man Found Guilty Of Child Sex Offences

    101-Year-Old British Man Found Guilty Of Child Sex Offences
    A 101-year-old man, thought to be the oldest person convicted in British legal history, was today found guilty of historical child sex offences. Jurors found Ralph Clarke from Erdington, Birmingham, guilty of 21 counts of abusing two girls in the 1970s and 80s.

    101-Year-Old British Man Found Guilty Of Child Sex Offences