India, China troops clash near Sikkim

Army plays down incident as ‘minor face-off’

Amid their tense standoff in eastern Ladakh, Indian and Chinese troops were involved in a physical clash in the high-altitude Naku La region in Sikkim on January 20, an incident the Indian Army described as a “minor face-off” on Monday.

The Indian Army, playing down the incident, said it was resolved by local commanders and there was no use of weapons.

“It is clarified that there was a minor face-off at Nakula area of North Sikkim on 20 January 2021 and the same was resolved by local commanders as per established protocols. Media is requested to refrain from overplaying or exaggerating reports which are factually incorrect,” said Indian Army.

“It is learnt that troops from both sides sustained minor injuries in the physical brawl in Naku La,” a PTI report said.

People familiar with the developments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in north Sikkim said the Chinese troops attempted to transgress into the Indian side of the frontier in Naku La but were stopped by the Indian military personnel.

They said both sides brought in additional troops to Naku La following the brawl and the situation was under control so far.

It is also learnt that defence minister Rajnath Singh and the top military brass were apprised about the incident. The incident at Naku La became public on Monday hours after senior commanders of both the armies concluded a nearly 16-hour-long meeting in an attempt to defuse tension in eastern Ladakh.

Naku La, located at an altitude of 16,000 feet, is the same site where Indian and Chinese troops had engaged in a fierce clash in May last year days after a violent face-off between the two sides in Pangong lake area in eastern Ladakh. Nearly 150 Indian and Chinese military personnel were engaged on May 9. At least 10 soldiers from both sides sustained injuries.