Amidst stand-off, Chinese soldier captured in Ladakh

Army says the apprehended soldier is being dealt with as per laid down procedures

Indian Army apprehended a Chinese soldier on Friday morning in South bank of Pangong Tso lake in Eastern Ladakh where India and China are involved in a tense military stand off for last eight months.

The soldier was caught near Gurung Hill, which is one of the peaks in Kailash range, which Indian Army had pre-emptively occupied in August in tit for tat action against Chinese aggression on North bank of Pangong Tso. The move meant that

Indian soldiers dominated peaks in the area and had chocked PLA movement in the sector.

The Indian Army move had caught Chinese by surprise and they had made several unsuccessful attempts to occupy these peaks. The area had also witnessed firing incident for the first time in four decades between the two armies as tensions had escalated.

“The PLA soldier had transgressed across the LAC and was taken into custody by Indian troops deployed in this area,” said Indian Army on Saturday.

In a strong statement Indian Army said that troops from either side are deployed along the LAC since friction erupted last year due to unprecedented mobilisation and forward concentration by Chinese troops.

“The PLA soldier is being dealt with as per laid down procedures and circumstances under which he had crossed the LAC are being investigated,” said Indian Army.

Sources said the Chinese soldier is being questioned to know whether he accidentally crossed over or was trying to spy.

Earlier in October Indian

Army had apprehended a Chinese soldier in Demchok sector of Eastern Ladakh, who was returned.

Chinese state owned media Global Times said that China has called for an immediate return of the soldier, who it claimed went missing due to “darkness and complicated geography”.

It further claimed that China had informed India as soon as the incident occurred, and sought help from the Indian side.

The incident has happened at a time when there has been no breakthrough in talks on disen

gagement between and China despite round of

India eight Corps

Commanders meeting between the two sides. Due to differences there has been no further rounds of Corps Commanders meeting since November 6.