China restricts patrolling
by Indian Army in Ladakh
PLA Banners Caution
Against ‘Trespassing Into Chinese
Territory’ On Indian Side
Leh/New Delhi, Aug 4: Amid a spate of incursions by China
in Ladakh, its troops are also resorting to tactics like preventing Indian Army
from patrolling posts in this sector along the border which was well within India's
territory.
In what is being
described as an aggressive approach by China, the tactics have come to the
fore in the wake of yet another incident last week when Indian troops launched
its patrol "Tiranga" from Trade Junction area in North of Ladakh for
two posts located 14 km up in the higher reaches along the Line of
Actual Control (LAC). The 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 that it was Chinese territory and that they cannot proceed to
the posts, they said. The sources said the Chinese troops were aggressive in
their approach while stopping the Indian patrol who were at their posts.
These posts are well
inside Indian territory, the sources said, adding that from April this year,
the patrol for these forward bases were launched 21
times and only twice it could complete its mission. Chinese have erected an
observation post which kept a vigil on movement of Indian troops and as soon as
an Indian patrol party is ready to leave, they are intercepted midway and sent
back, the sources said, adding the matter would be taken up during the next
Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) at Chushul.
In the same North Ladakh sector, there were instances when Chinese
military vehicles were spotted in Depsang Bulge and Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO)
sector where the two armies had seen a 21-day standoff from
April 15 this year.
Indian troops
comprising mainly 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, India
also raised objections to a tower being constructed in the Chinese side on the
LAC in Demchok-Fukhche sector.
During the meeting
with the Chinese side which was led by Colonel Wang Jun Xian, the Indian side
said the construction was in violation of Peace and Tranquility Agreement
signed between the two countries in 1993. According to the
agreement, no construction work has to be undertaken at the LAC by either
country.
The Chinese side
claimed that the tower was actually a weather station for the benefit of the
people of the area and instead informed the Indian delegation that its Army was
engaged in military activities in Fukhche. The Indian side led by Brigadier
Sanjeev Rai told the Chinese team that PLA troops were regularly entering into
the Indian area, sources said. It gave instances like on July 16 and 19 when the Chinese
troops entered 1.2 km deep into Indian territory, on July 17 (2.5 km), on July 20 (aggressive patrol
entered 200 metres) and intervening night of July 25-26 (3.5 km). These incursions mainly happened in Chumar and
Demchok areas, located 300 km from Leh. The
sources said that the 'assertive posturing' by the Chinese troops was a
worrying trend which had been seen lately after the April 15
face-off at the DBO sector. Chumar is the last town after which Himachal
Pradesh starts. This area also has the distinction of having a defined
International Border with China.
This area is not accessible from the Chinese side whereas the Indian side has a
road almost to the last point on which the army can carry a load upto nine
tonnes. All Indian units located along the LAC have been asked to maintain a
tight vigil in their Area of Responsibilities (AOR) and launch frequent patrols
to the higher reaches, the sources said.
Source: http://www.greaterkashmir.com
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