The Chinese People’s Liberation Army carried out provocative military deployments in Spanggur Gap, which is located between Gurung Hill and Magar Hill, since August 30 after Indian soldiers took tactical heights on the ridge line on the southern shore of Pangong Tso near Chushul on the Line of Royal Control (LACA).
“Seeing the mobilization of troops and weapons from the Chinese PLA, the Indian army also made mirror displays in Spanggur Gap. Both the troops and the weapons of the countries are within range,” said a government official.
In addition, the sources said, China has deployed its militia squads to “consolidate the border” and “stabilize the Tibet region.” They have been tasked with trying to dislodge the Indian Army soldiers from the tactical heights.
The militia is an uneven mix of mountaineers, boxers, members of local fight clubs, and others. Most of the members come from the local population.
“The militia is basically a reserve force of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. It is deployed during war situations and to assist the PLA in its military operations,” said a senior government official.
The official also said that the Chinese militia also conducts independent operations and provides combat support and resupply of personnel to the PLA.
The Indian military has clearly reiterated that the forces will retaliate if Chinese troops make provocative military moves.
On the north shore of Pangong Lake, sources said that even as PLA troops continue to occupy positions on the Finger 4 mountain spur that juts into the lake, Indian soldiers have occupied some heights that dominate their positions.
“Our troops have occupied some heights in view of the positions occupied by the PLA,” said a source.
The north shore of the lake is divided into 8 ‘Fingers’ which are contested by both sides. India claims the actual line of control at finger 8 and has remained in the area up to finger 4, but in a clear alteration of the status quo, the Chinese have been camping on finger 4 and have established fortifications between fingers 5 and 8.
The movement of Chinese troops, vehicles and new defense mechanisms are visible on the north and south shores of Lake Pangong. In some places there are heavily armed troops in the vicinity.
To alleviate the situation, the armies of India and China interact on a daily basis.
India and China are locked in a four-month confrontation in LAC in eastern Ladakh. Despite various levels of dialogue, there has been no progress and the stalemate continues.
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