The Asian Age

More forces go to Himachal as China ramps up its infra

- AGE CORRESPOND­ENT

TOP SECURITY sources in New Delhi claimed they had specific intelligen­ce inputs, including satellite images and visual footage, that the People’s Liberation Army had begun massive constructi­on activity, close to Samdo border area in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul Spiti region

After intelligen­ce inputs that China was planning to open another front against India, this time on the Himachal Pradesh border, alert Indian security forces have gone in for a massive mobilisati­on of troops to tackle any potential Chinese threat in the near future. Top security sources in New Delhi claimed they had specific intelligen­ce inputs, including satellite images and visual footage, that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had begun massive constructi­on activity, close to Samdo border area in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul Spiti region. Similar activity was also seen in the remote areas of Kinnaur along the Sino-Indian border.

Officials said the PLA was constructi­ng roads and settlement­s, including permanent concrete structures, very close to the border. In fact, in some areas, China had even settled people from other regions in these newly constructe­d villages near the border in the Himachal sector. Some of these newly constructe­d buildings are being used to use PLA troops too.

While Chinese soldiers have not made any attempt so far to transgress into Indian territory, security had been beefed up all along the border.

Senior security officials said the Army and ITBP had intensifie­d patrols in the Himachal sector. “If Chinese forces try any misadventu­re or cross over into Indian territory as they did in Ladakh, they will be dealt with severely”, a senior ITP official said.

 ?? — PTI ?? Army Chief Gen. M.M. Naravane reviews the security situation along the Line of Control in Kashmir on Thursday. He said the longevity of the LoC ceasefire with Pakistan would depend on the latter’s actions, but declared there would be “no slackening” of preparedne­ss as terror infrastruc­ture across the border was intact.
— PTI Army Chief Gen. M.M. Naravane reviews the security situation along the Line of Control in Kashmir on Thursday. He said the longevity of the LoC ceasefire with Pakistan would depend on the latter’s actions, but declared there would be “no slackening” of preparedne­ss as terror infrastruc­ture across the border was intact.

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