Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 13: As a part of its new modus operandi, China is using people living along the border for faceoff with India at Demchok, one of the disputed points between the two counties in Leh district of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the confrontation under the new strategy, which is continuously going on during the past over one week, is being effectively countered by the Leh district administration with the assistance of Army.
It is for the first time in the history that an officer of the civil administration has joined the people of this side in giving befitting reply to the faceoff and sending a clear signal to the People’s Liberation Army of the China that whole nation is with the border people and their security would be ensured at any cost.
Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR that China has changed its strategy for harassing the people living in Demchok area of Leh district and now it is not making use of its Army but utilizing civilians as a tool for the same. “It seems that China wants to give new color to its nefarious designs by engaging people on both sides of Line of Actual Control in confrontation”, they added.
Since September 5, this new strategy is being continuously followed in Demchok area of Nyoma Sub-Division whereby large number of banners have been provided to the people mentioning that those living on this side of Line of Actual Control should vacate the area otherwise consequences would be dire.
“The basic bone of contention between the two-sides is a nullah flowing in the area. While China is making use of its water for the irrigation purpose, it does not want Demchok people to do the same”, they said, adding “ever since the Leh administration started work on the project under NREGA to benefit its farming community hurdles are being created by China in one way or the other”.
Earlier, People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was terrorizing and harassing the people of Demchok and now people living along the LAC in China side are being used as a weapon to get this work stopped and force the people on this side of border to leave the area, they said. During the past over one week, China people are continuously showing banners carrying provocative and threatening contents.
On getting information about this, Deputy Commissioner Leh, Simrandeep Singh decided that Demchok people would also respond in the same manner with adequate support from the Army. Accordingly, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Nyoma, Kachoo Turrab Shah was deputed to Demchok and he provided banners to Demchok people, who have also started showing the same to China people.
These banners read: “This is our area, you cannot stop us from living here and making use of the water”, “This is our territory, don’t disturb us”. The message from the Leh administration on the banner reads: “Entire administration is with border people….whole nation is on the back of Demchok people”.
“The most motivating aspect for the Demchok people during this continuous face-off is that for the first time in the history an officer from the civil administration of the rank of SDM too joined them in giving befitting reply to the Chinese”, sources said, adding “even Army is also stationing in the area in order to respond effectively in case of any nefarious activity from People’s Liberation Army under the garb of civilians face-off”.
When contacted, Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Simrandeep Singh confirmed face-off at Demchok and said, “it is for the first time that civilians are eye-to-eye against each other”, adding “SDM has been directed to station in the area till the stand-off ends so as to boost the morale of the border people”.
“The Demchok people have all the right to make use of water flowing in the nullah on LAC and district administration would ensure completion of work on the project, which otherwise is running beyond scheduled date of completion due to interruptions from the Chinese side”, he said.
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