File picture of the patrol at Indo-China border.
Even as China and India try to evolve an acceptable mechanism to keep the Line of Actual Control (LAC) quiet, reports of increasing face-offs between patrol parties of the two armies in Ladakh continue to create local tensions.
In the latest incident, there are reports that Chinese troops are resorting to tactics like preventing Indian Army from patrolling posts in the sector along the border which is well within India's territory.
The incident came to light last week when Indian troops launched its patrol "Tiranga" from Trade Junction area in North of Ladakh for two posts located 14 kilometres up in the higher reaches along the LAC.
Indian Army personnel were stopped by Chinese troops who came mounted on heavy and light vehicles, official sources said today.
The patrol party was shown a banner, saying it was Chinese territory and that the former could not proceed to the posts, the sources said.
Sources also said the Chinese troops were aggressive in their approach while stopping the Indian patrol party who were at their posts.
In the last one month alone, there have been at least two face-offs followed by what is known as banner drill between the two sides in North Ladakh. There have also been three reported instances of intrusions in a week by the Chinese at Chumar in southern Ladakh.
Both sides maintain that these intrusions happen because of differing perception on where the border lies. Both New Delhi and Beijing are working on a Border Defence Cooperation Agreement to maintain peace on the LAC.
The Chinese have erected an observation post in the North Ladakh sector which keeps a vigil on the movement of Indian troops and as soon as an Indian patrol party is ready to leave, they are intercepted midway and sent back, sources said, adding the matter would be taken up during the next Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) at Chushul.
In the same sector, there were instances when Chinese military vehicles were spotted in Depsang Bulge and Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) sector where the two armies had witnessed a 21-day stand-off in April this year.
Indian troops comprising mainly of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) immediately swung into action and prevented the 'free-run' of Chinese military vehicles in the Indian territory.
In the last BPM meeting held on July 27, New Delhi also raised objections to a tower being constructed in the Chinese side on the LAC in Demchok-Fukhche sector.