Defence ministry pulls out Chinese incursion report

The defence ministry on Thursday pulled down a document from its website which had for the first time officially acknowledged that Chinese troops had “transgressed” in at least three places in Ladakh and that the situation in the area due to “aggression by China” is “sensitive” with the stand-off likely to be “prolonged”.

There was no official word on why the document, which was uploaded on Tuesday, was removed after two days.

This comes when the fourth and fifth round of Corps Commanders talks between India and China seem to have been unable to achieve a breakthrough on further disengagement in Pangong Tso and other friction areas. The government is yet to come out with a formal statement on the outcome of the fifth meeting. China has refused to move its troops out of the Fingers area in Pangong Tso and the Depsang-Daulat Beg Oldi sector. The defence ministry document had said that Chinese aggression had been increasing along the Line of Actual Control and more particularly in Galwan Valley since May

5. “The Chinese side transgressed in the areas of Kugrang Nala, Gogra and north bank of Pangong Tso lake on 17-18 May,

2020,” it said.

While engagement and dialogue at the military and diplomatic level is continuing, “the present standoff is likely to be prolonged,” it said. “The situation in Eastern Ladakh arising from unilateral aggression by China continues to be sensitive and requires close monitoring and prompt action based on evolving situation,” it added.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi continued with his attack on Modi government over its handling of situation with China in Ladakh sector. “Denying China is in our territory and removing documents from websites won’t change the facts,” tweeted Mr Gandhi.

According to sources, China has built up its forces not only in Ladakh but all along the LAC.

Army Chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane is on a two day visit to Tezpurbased 4 Corps to review the security situation along the China border in North-East.

The Chinese are occupying the Finger 5 area in the Pangong Tso and are still continuing to hold the ridges in the Finger 4 area. During the initial phase of disengagement, Chinese troops had vacated the banks of the lake in Finger 4 on July 9 and returned to Finger 5. Chinese troops still have to vacate the area between Finger 5 and Finger 8, which India claims is its territory. Satellite images have shown huge build-up by Chinese at Pangong Tso with permanent structures.

● CHINA REFUSED to move its troops out of the Fingers area in Pangong Tso and the DepsangDaulat Beg Oldi sector.