Chinese drive into Demchuk sector of Ladakh, LAC violation suspected

JAMMU: Irked over some residents hoisting Tibetan flags on the occasion of spiritual leader Dalai Lama’s birthday last week, some Chinese are reported to have crossed the Line of Actual Control in Demchuk region of Ladakh to lodge their protest by making a 30-40 minute long stay.

There are conflicting versions coming from the local residents in Ladakh and government sources over the violation of boundary and nature of infiltrators. While some sources in Ladakh said that Chinese soldiers in civvies drove in large cars some two kilometres deep in the Indian territory, the government sources assert that they were possibly civilians and the LAC violation is not the concrete case as the boundary is disputed with India and China having differing perceptions.

Some officials in the know said several PLA personnel drove in their SUV's into Koyul village in Demchok sector, located close to the LAC, on July 6 and lodged a protest over hoisting of the Tibetan flags by the refugees settled there.

They, however, said since the LAC was not demarcated properly for decades, this has led to differing perceptions of it by India and China.

There was another version of the incident on the LAC with South Block sources saying the Chinese personnel, who were in "civilian clothes", did not cross the LAC but showed banners that read "Ban all activities to split Tibet".

"On July 6, some 11 Chinese in civilian clothes arrived in two vehicles when the Ladakhi villagers were celebrating Dalai Lama's birthday. They then showed them banners and waited there for 30-40 minutes but did not cross the Line of Actual Control," the sources said. The Tibetans were celebrating the 84th birthday of the Dalai Lama.

India and China share a disputed border and the armies of the two countries were engaged in a stand-off for 73 days in 2017 in Doklam.

Security officials said that the officers on both sides decided to resolve the matter amicably.

Indian army personnel were also present at the spot and did not allow the Chinese soldiers to proceed any further, the officials said.

The PLA personnel entered 1.5 km into the Indian territory, they said. Earlier, the officials claimed that the Chinese soldiers had entered 5 km.

After a couple of hours, the Chinese troops returned to their side following an assurance by Indian army officials that they would look into the action by the refugees.

There have been also reports of Chinese soldiers stopping the shepherds from grazing their sheeps in Demchok sector.

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