Indian, Chinese troops were eyeball to eyeball in Chumar
NEW DELHI: The patrolling troops of India and China were in a “face-to-face” situation in Chumar area of Ladakh after the Chinese had “transgressed” into Indian territory on June 17 and removed surveillance cameras, which were subsequently returned, official sources said here on Thursday.
Maintaining that different perceptions over the Line of Actual Control (LAC) exist in the Chumar sub-sector, official sources said, “the Chinese patrol did transgress and there was a face-to-face with the Indian patrol after which the Chinese soldiers went back to their normal bases”.
The intrusion took place on June 17 when the troops of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) entered Indian territory in the Chumar sector and started vandalising the observation bunkers besides cutting the wires which overlook the Chinese territory.
Chumar has always been an area of discomfort for Chinese troops as this is the only area along the border where the Chinese do not have any direct access to the LAC.
The 21-day face-off between the two sides in the remote Daul at Beg Oldi (DBO) sector on April 15 was triggered by construction of an observation tower in Chumar division which had to be subsequently dismantled by the army on May 5 before the crisis was defused.
The Chinese side, according to the minutes of flag meetings in the last week of March this year, had been objecting to the construction of the watch tower along the LAC.
After dismantling t he observation post and defence bunkers, the army had installed cameras to monitor the movement of Chinese troops along the LAC, a step which had irked the PLA. This area is not accessible from the Chinese side whereas the Indian side has a road almost to the last point on which the army can carry loads up to 9 tonnes.
Sources also said the discussions on the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement was a “work in progress”, but refused to divulge any details.