Chinese civilians carrying banners, flags, intrude into Ladakh area along LAC

JAMMU : Ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India, some Chinese civilians intruded into Indian territory in village Demchok, situated along the Line of Actual Control. The situation has been tense for the past one week in Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Over 100 Chinese civilians entered into the Indian Territory in village Demchok of Ladakh and prevented locals from working on an irrigation project there,” official sources said here today. For past several days, there has been continuous face-off with Chinese civilians, who objected to stop the water channel in the Demchok area, being constructed under MGNREGA. The sources said the situation is alarming as both the sides engaged in heated arguments while waving banners and flags. “There are heated arguments with China in the Demchok village located at Actual Line of Control since a week ago where Chinese civilians objected over the irrigation canal cum water lifting channel ongoing construction under MGNREGA,” Simrandeep Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Leh told UNI.
The DC said, earlier, the Chinese Army had face-off with the Indian Army but now the situation is different, adding, “civilians from the village called Tashi Gang on China side, reached the LAC in village Demchok in government vehicles and protested near the Nullah amid slogans.” Mr Singh said a delegation from village Demchok apprised him about the situation and sought support from the district administration following which SDM Nyoma was asked to camp there along with the civilians.
If the Chinese wave banners and flags, the Demchok residents can also wave and show the banners in response, avoiding any kind of untoward like incident.
The DC further said no tents or any temporary structures have been raised by the Chinese civilians along the LAC in village Demchok but every morning they visit the place and after raising slogans and waving flags, return back in the evening. “Situation is tense for the past one week. Indian Army is supporting the administration and civilians,” Mr Singh said and added that he is monitoring the situation and awaiting instructions from the higher authorities to accordingly handle the situation.
(AGENCIES)