The video shows a concerted effort by Chinese soldiers to grab land
A day after the government confirmed a clash on December 9 between Indian and Chinese soldiers at the border in Arunachal Pradesh, a video of a previous skirmish emerged.
The video, from last year, shows a fierce fight in the same area of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Army has firmly denied that the video is related to the December 9 incident.
What is shown in the clip is believed to have taken place at the Yangtse sector near the Line of Actual Control (LAC), sometime after the clashes at Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh in June 2020, when 20 Indian soldiers died for the country and more than 40 Chinese soldiers were killed or injured.
The video shows the Indian soldiers repulsing a concerted effort by Chinese soldiers to try and come up a slope and breach the defences of the Indians, who have established a position.
The Indian soldiers are seen violently clashing with and beating up Chinese soldiers who are trying to cross over.
"Hit them so hard, they don't come back," the jawans are heard saying in Punjabi.
"Hit them on the head...maaro, maaro. Give it back to them...Chase them away," they shout.
Indian soldiers are shown striking Chinese soldiers with batons and using fists to successfully prevent the Chinese from advancing.
The video has been shared by various political leaders after last week's incident was revealed.
In parliament yesterday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed an effort by China to land-grab in the same area on December 9.
There was a physical fight between the two sides but Indian soldiers "compelled the Chinese soldiers to return to their posts", pushing back in a "firm and resolute manner", Rajnath Singh said.
He said there were "minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides" and the two sides "immediately disengaged from the area".
Chinese troops "tried to transgress the LAC in Yangtse, Tawang, and unilaterally change the status quo," said the Defence Minister. "Due to timely intervention of Indian military commanders, Chinese soldiers went back to their locations." In a meeting of commanders, the Chinese were asked to "refrain from such actions and maintain peace and tranquility along the border, he said, adding that the incident had also been taken up through diplomatic channels.
China said the situation was "generally stable" on the border, without commenting on the clash.
The undemarcated border between India and China runs 3488 kms in all and has 25 points of dispute. One of these is Yangtse, which has been repeatedly targeted by the Chinese.
After multiple meetings between military commanders over the two years since the Galwan clashes, Indian and Chinese troops pulled back from key points including Gogra-Hot Springs in Ladakh.