Govt asks Bihar for Chinese PoWs' details

Govt asks Bihar for Chinese PoWs' details
AJAY SURI

NEW DELHI, AUG 3: The Union Ministry for Home Affairs has asked the Bihar administration for details about the two Chinese prisoners of war (PoWs) -- Yung Chialung and M A Siblong -- who are languishing at the Central Institute of Psychiatry, a mental asylum, in Ranchi since the 1962 war. After The Indian Express brought this to light this week, the Ministry moved quickly so that ``the matter can be taken up at a higher level''.

Once the identity and other details of the two are ascertained, said senior North Block officials, the Government intends to approach the Chinese Embassy. If it is proved that they are indeed Chinese PoWs, who have been in custody for such a long period, their freedom is more or less assured.

However, that could be a long haul. Neither the Ministry of Defence, nor the Army headquarters has any records about the two having been taken prisoner during the 1962 war. Senior Home Ministry officials looking into the case said: ``We have checked up with the Army and Defence Ministry. Their names do not figure in the list of PoWs.''

The Ministry of External Affairs -- which has been approached by the Home Ministry -- too has said it has no clue about the two. The Foreigners' Division of the Home Ministry -- which generally has details of foreigners detained in various jails of the country -- also has no information.

A reply from the Bihar Government is expected within a fortnight. And after that, the Chinese embassy is likely to take at least two months to respond to the Indian Government, it is pointed out.