Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Apr 23: The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China today rejected that their troops have intruded into Indian Territory in Daulat Baig Oldi sector in Ladakh region, official sources said here today.
The official sources said here that an officer of Colonel rank informed the Indian Army officer of Brigadier rank during a flag meeting held in DBO sector today that they are camping in their own territory.
According to official sources, the PLA intruded some 10 kilometers inside Indian territory in DBO sector in Ladakh region on April 5 and established tents and temporary posts there.
A Brigadier of the Indian Army of the DBO sector raised the issue of the PLA intrusion into Indian territory but the Chinese Army officer denied any such intrusion.
Sources said that the Indian Army officer also printed out that China is constructing a wall near the Line of Actual Control in Phuktsey sector of Ladakh. “However, Chinese Army officer denied any such construction but assured that the matter would be looked into”, sources added.
“The Chinese Army officer alleged that Indian army is constructing bunkers and digging trenches in Phuktsey sector of Ladakh near the LAC. He asked Indian Army to stop such constructions immediately”, sources said.
Sources said that the Chinese Army during the flag meeting has also alleged that in Chimmer sector of Ladakh there is civil movement on Indian side. “He alleged that Indian civilians are smuggling goods in this sector and are conducting illegal trade across LAC.”
The Chinese Army officer also alleged that Indian nomads in Chimmer sector are grazing their cattle in Chinese territory and staying there during summers. They asked Indian Army to stop such trans LAC activity.
Meanwhile, the stand-off between Indian Army and intruded Chinese People’s Liberation Army in Daulat Baig Oldi sector in Leh continued despite India asking Chinese Army to return status quo position along LAC in the sector.
Official sources said that about 15 PLA men are still at the camping site in DBO sector where they established temporary posts after around 50 PLA men intruded some 10 kilometres inside Indian Territory on April 15.
Sources said that Indian Army and Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) that is camping hardly 200 meters away from the PLA held position witnessed presence of only 15 PLA men since yesterday.
Sources said that there are reports of no confrontation between the two armies although they are camping adjacent to each other. “Indian troop strength is also around 30 persons comprising 15 Army men and equal number of ITBP men”, sources added.
“There is no war like situation as both the armies are camping adjacent to each other with ease. Not a single bullet has been fired so far”, sources added.
It may be mentioned here that around 50 PLA men of China intruded around 10 kilometres inside Indian Territory on April 15 week in DBO sector of Leh in Ladakh region and established temporary posts there.
While PLA men were pitching tents and erecting temporary posts, 2-3 helicopters were hovering over them in the afternoon on April 15.
The PLA also wrote China in Chinese language and marked boulders in the intruded area. Indian Army after observing cross Line of Actual Control (LAC) movement rushed a contingent of Army to the sector on April 16 and on April 17, 5th Battalion of Ladakh Scouts was sent to the sector.
The Indian Army asked for flag meeting with the PLA to sort out the intrusion, and on April 18, it was held in Chushul but the meeting ended in deadlock.
This is for the first time that Chinese PLA crossed the LAC and camped such a deep inside Indian Territory in Ladakh.
In DBO sector Indian Army maintains helipads and a gravel air strip, the highest airstrip in the world. The base was established during the Sino-Indian conflict in 1962. In 1966, when it had to be closed down suddenly when an earthquake caused loosening of the surface soil, making the area unsuitable for fixed-wing aircraft. The airfield was made operational again on May 31, 2008, when an Indian Air Force AN-32 landed there.
Ladakh region shares a 646 kilometre long LAC with China, which is not demarcated at several places. The PLA in the past has intruded into Indian territory in Ladakh several times and Indian Army has been playing down such intrusions in the past.
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