Minor face-off: Army on reports of 4 soldiers being injured in clash with China

New Delhi: The Indian Army on Monday confirmed that a “minor face-off” occurred between the soldiers of India and China at Naku La in Sikkim on January 20 (Wednesday). The acknowledgement came after multiple media reports today stated that a violent physical brawl had ensued following the People’s Liberation Army’s attempt to intrude into the Indian territory.

The Army said in a statement, reported by ANI, that the face-off was resolved swiftly.

“It is clarified that there was a minor face-off between Indian Army and Chinese PLA troops at Naku La, Sikkim on 20th January. It was resolved by local commanders as per established protocols,” the Army statement read.

It came after reports said that the violent clash took place last week following the PLA’s intrusion attempt, which was foiled by alert Indian troops. The incident took place thousands of kilometres away from the ongoing standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

It was reported that the Indian Army troops foiled the intrusion bid, triggering a physical clash in which soldiers from both sides were reportedly injured. Firearms were not used during the clash, as per reports, and the situation was reported to be tense but calm.

It was in Naku La last year in May that one of the two clashes between the two armies had taken place, apart from Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh, before the issue blew up into a full-scale border standoff that has not been resolved yet.

The Naku La clash came ahead of the ninth round of military talks between the two sides on Sunday, during which India insisted on complete disengagement of troops from all friction points in eastern Ladakh.

As of today, around 50,000 Indian and Chinese troops each continue to patrol several friction points in eastern Ladakh.