File photo of Indian soldiers along the India-China border
Chinese troops have entered 25 to 30 km deep into Indian territory in Burtse area of North Ladakh, officials sources said. This is the same place where they had pitched their tents last year, which led to a tense three-week stand-off.
A patrol of Indian troops noticed the People's Liberation Army (PLA) personnel on Sunday while moving from their base towards the higher 'New Patrol base' post in Burtse, sources said. The area is at an altitude of 17,000 feet.
Sources said that the troops, after walking barely 1.5 km from their base, spotted the Chinese personnel 25 to 30 km inside the Line of Actual Control, or LAC. Adhering to newly-drafted Standard Operating Procedures, the Indian troops returned to their base.
In the wee hours of Monday, when the troops went on a patrol again to the 'New Patrol base' post, they found the PLA personnel had not moved. The men were sitting on the ground, holding flags that read "This is Chinese territory, go back".
A Quick Reaction Team that had accompanied the troops failed to make any headway. The Chinese refused to budge from their position, sources said. Finally, the Indian troops returned to their base and informed the seniors.
Udhampur-based Army Spokesperson Col S D Goswami denied any such incident had taken place. He, however, clarified that the lack of consensus on the Line of Actual Control led to transgressions.
"There are areas along the border where India and China have differing perception of LAC. Due to both sides undertaking patrolling upto their respective perception of the LAC, transgressions do occur. However, no incursion or encroachment of Indian Territory by China has taken place along the India-China border," the spokesperson said in response to an email query.
He said India regularly takes up any transgression with the Chinese side through established mechanisms such as flag meetings, border personnel meetings and normal diplomatic channels like Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs.
At these meetings, the issues are resolved through the provisions of various agreements between India and China, he added.
According to sources, the Indian border patrol attempted to reach the 'New Patrol Base' from a place known as 'Nallah one', near its base.
A satellite image of the area was likely to be taken to ascertain whether the Chinese PLA have pitched in tents like it did last year, sources said. The sources, however, hinted that there was a possibility of some tents being erected by the Chinese troops to facilitate their movement deep into the Indian territory.
The Burtse area, which is adjacent to Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), forms part of huge Depsang plains perceived by India as its own territory.
However, the Chinese side have been claiming it to be part of their territory as it gives them a tactical advantage over the area including the air field which was operationalised by the Indian Air Force last year for a short while.
This area was in news last year due to the 21-day stand-off between the Indian and Chinese troops which ended after four flag meetings between the two sides. The Chinese PLA had pitched five tents in the area and claimed it was a part of their territory.