Army goes in for ‘tactical deployment’ along LAC

Amid the massive troop build-up on both sides of the Line of Actual Control, the Indian Army has gone in for “tactical deployment” — camouflaging men, weaponry and other equipment — to take on China’s People’s Liberation Army’s strategy of “offensive deployment” should there be any provocation from the neighbour.

While satellite images show large numbers of PLA soldiers concentrated at some spots on their side of the LAC, Indian soldiers were tactically positioned on mountain tops and valleys. Highly placed sources told Deccan Chronicle that China’s offensive deployment strategy was on display from the day both armies clashed in Galwan valley on June 15.

Thereafter, various satellite images have shown hundreds of PLA soldiers concentrated at various spots on their side, indicating their continuing aggressive posture and an all-out attack strategy.

On the Indian side, the gun to gun distance is about 50 metres and every third gun is not in the same line. Similarly, not more than two or three soldiers can be seen together while the Indian Army tents at many points were covered up in camouflage.

“Our boys are spread out, be it on the mountain tops or in the valleys. Unlike the PLA, not all movements on our side can be known. This gives us lots of tactical advantages to launch simultaneous attacks from different positions and ambushing the enemy. When it comes to high altitude battles, Indian Army is the best in the world,” sources said.

As part of the preparations, it is learnt that tunnels have also been dug at some points to hide men and material.

“Soldiers in the offensive formation (like in the case of China) are trained to attack and are aggressive. But they are not equally effective when they face a strong counterattack, like the one in the Galwan valley. Ours is a defensive formation along the LAC but we have been experts in tactical deployment. Similar strategies were adopted in the Kargil war,” they said.