Indo-China skirmish? Army denies report

[RPK]

Indo-China skirmish? Army denies report :: Samay Live

New Delhi: Skirmish between China and Indian troops have been reported near Nathu-La ravine.

However, Indian Army has denied the report of battle with Chinese troops.

The army has also denied to rushing more troops to Nathu-La.

Earlier, some reports had suggested that Chinese troops' intrusion into the Indian Territory

 

[IBRIS]

India, China armies clash in Sikkim.

The Indian and Chinese armies have reportedly been locked in sporadic exchanges of fire in Sikkim, where the two countries share a high-altitude border, since Tuesday night.

A senior defence ministry official in Kolkata, where the Eastern Command is based, said the conflict had been on at Nathu-la pass — 54 km east of Sikkim’s capital Gangtok.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ministry of Defence, however, denied any shooting on the border.

The defence official, who refused to be identified, said, “The gunbattle intensified during the early hours of Wednesday. There are, however, no reports of any death or serious injuries.”

He said although India had not deployed any additional forces in the area, all civilian traffic had been stopped. But the ministry statement said the roads had been closed in the area because of landslides.

The official said, “The skirmish caused concern as at a special joint meeting on August 15 both sides reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen the existing friendship.”

Situated at 14,140 feet, Nathu-la reopened for trade in 2006 after the 1962 Sino-Indian War.
India, China armies clash in Sikkim?- Hindustan Times

 

[RPK]

Army denies reports of Chinese intrusions at Nathu-La

New Delhi: Was there a border face-off between Indian and Chinese troops at Nathu-la, Sikkim? The Indian Army has denied reports of any face-off in sections of the media. The Army has also denied reports of a Chinese intrusion and has refuted rumours of an Indian troop build up.


The Army says sections of National Highway 1 have not been closed down to facilitate troop movement, but that the highway is blocked because of landslides.


Nathu-La, at a height of more than 14,000 feet, last saw action in 1962. It reopened to border trade only two years ago.


So-called intrusions are common along the disputed border by both sides who try and keep alive respective territorial claims, but the border has been largely peaceful since the 1990s.


Meanwhile, Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Suresh Mehta, has denied reports of Chinese incursions into Indian territory on the Northeastern border.


"I don't know where you have heard that story from," he said when asked about troop movements and any intrusions.