Strayed Chinese Soldier Apprehended on Indian Side of LAC in Ladakh
NEW DELHI, Jan 9: A Chinese soldier who had crossed the line of actual control south of Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh, was apprehended by the Indian Army in the early hours of Friday. The Army said the Chinese soldier is being dealt with laid down protocols.
In a statement releases on Saturday, the Indian Army said: “During early hours of 08 January, 21, a Chinese soldier was apprehended on the Indian side of the LAC in Ladakh, in area south of Pangong Tso lake. The PLA soldier had transgressed across the LAC and was taken into custody by Indian troops deployed in this area.”
“Troops from either side are deployed along the LAC since friction erupted last year due to unprecedented mobilisation and forward concentration by Chinese troops. The PLA soldier is being dealt with as per laid down procedures and circumstances under which he had crossed the LAC are being investigated. Further details are awaited,” the Army stated.
The area is one of the areas in Chushul sub-sector where troops from both sides are just a few hundred meters apart. Indian forces in August-end had outwitted Chinese troops to occupy certain, previously unoccupied heights, which has allowed India to dominate the region.
Indian troops are positioned on peaks such as Mukhpari and Gurung Hill, both of which overlook the Spanggur Gap, a strategically significant 2 km-wide valley, that can be used to launch an offensive, as China had done in 1962. Some of the other heights that Indian troops have occupied since the end of August include Rezang La and Rechin La.
This is the second time that a Chinese soldier was apprehended for crossing the LAC in eastern Ladakh in the last few months. A PLA soldier identified as Corporal Wang Ya Long was apprehended in the Demchok sector of Eastern Ladakh on October 19 after he had strayed across the LAC, and the Army had received a request from the PLA about its whereabouts.
The soldier was returned to China two days later.
(Manas Dasgupta)
