NEW DELHI: India said on Tuesday categorically that Chinese troops had opened fire in the air in an attempt to intimidate Indian troops at an outpost in eastern Ladakh on Monday night, rejecting a similar accusation made by the People’s Army. of Liberation.
“At no time has the Indian Army transgressed the Royal Line of Control (LAC) or resorted to the use of any aggressive means, including fire. It is the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) that has flagrantly violated the agreements and carried out aggressive maneuvers, while the commitment at the military, diplomatic and political level is in progress, ”said the Indian Army.
The use of firearms marks a very serious escalation along LAC’s 3,488 kilometers, where neither side has fired in the last 45 years, since the military confrontation began in eastern Ladakh in early May.
Neither side used firearms even during the violent skirmish in the Galwan Valley on June 15, which left 20 Indians and an unknown number of Chinese soldiers dead.
The new escalation comes even as Foreign Minister S Jaishankar left for Moscow on Tuesday morning, where he is scheduled to meet his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. (OCS) on September 10.
There were some reports that Indian troops fired some warning shots into the air after they spotted aggressive PLA troops trying to advance towards Mukhpari peak and Reqin La (Rechin mountain pass) in the larger Chushul area around 6.15pm. Monday hours. This forced the PLA troops to retreat to their positions.
But the Indian army said its troops had refrained from opening fire despite serious provocation by the PLA. “When our troops dissuaded them, the PLA troops fired a few rounds into the air in an attempt to intimidate our troops. However, despite the serious provocation, our troops exercised great restraint and behaved in a mature and responsible manner, ”the Army statement said.
“The Indian Army is committed to maintaining peace and quiet. But he is also determined to protect national integrity and sovereignty at all costs. China’s Western Theater Command (WTC) statement is an attempt to mislead its national and international audience, ”she added.
Mukhpari is the highest feature among the multiple heights occupied by Indian troops from August 29-30, with the ridge line stretching from the southern shore of Pangong Tso in Thakung to Gurung Hill, Spanggur Gap, Magar Hill, Mukhpari, Rezang La and Reqin La Some 3,000 Indian soldiers, heavily armed with rocket launchers, anti-tank guided missiles and other weapons, are now well entrenched at tactical heights at altitudes above 15,000 feet.
Furious at the proactive military maneuver undertaken by India, the PLA has made at least a couple of aggressive moves in the area that were blocked by Indian troops.
The PLA, which has deployed additional troops and tanks in front of the Chushul sector, has been vigorously demanding that the Indian soldiers leave the heights that overlook the crucial PLA Moldo garrison, the roads and the tank entry route through Spanggur. Gap in the region, as previously reported by TOI.
China’s WTC late Monday night had accused Indian troops of “illegally crossing the line” to enter the southern shore of Pangong Tso and the Shenpao mountain area and “shooting outrageously” in a “grave provocation. military “of” very bad nature. ”
“During the operation, the Indian army made blatant threats to the Chinese border guards’ patrol personnel who had held protests. The Chinese border guards were forced to take countermeasures to stabilize the situation, ”alleged WTC spokesman Senior Colonel Zhang Shuili.
“The measure by the Indian side seriously violated the related agreements reached by both sides, caused tensions in the region and would easily cause misunderstandings and wrong judgments, which is a serious military provocation and is very vile in nature,” he said.
“We demand that the Indian side immediately stop the dangerous movements, withdraw the personnel who crossed the LAC immediately, strictly control the front-line troops, seriously investigate and punish the personnel who fired the provocative shot and ensure that similar incidents do not reoccur. happen, “he said. additional.
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