Over 100 Chinese soldiers transgressed 5km into U'khand, damaged bridge: Reports

New Delhi: Around 100 Chinese soldiers entered the Indian territory in Uttarakhand and damaged a bridge in Barahoti area before retreating back to China, said a report published in the Economic Times.

According to the reports, the soldiers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) transgressed at least 5 kilometres inside the Indian territory through the Tunjun-La pass.

They had come on 55 horses, damaged Indian infrastructure, and left before they could be confronted by the Indian troops.

The ET report, based on sources in the security departments, claimed that the PLA soldiers roamed in Barahoti for around 3 hours.

The transgression by Chinese troops was reported by locals, after which teams from the Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police were dispatched to verify the report.

In the Central Sector (a 545-km stretch of border with Tibet in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand), the dispute between India and China is over 2,000 square km of territory, in eight separate areas.

Barahoti lies on the border with China in the Chamoli district of Uttrakhand, north of the Nanda Devi National Park.

Back in July 2017, Chinese soldiers had transgressed into Barahoti twice during India's standoff with China in Bhutan's Doklam.

An ITBP source had then told the Indian Express that, "On both occasions [on July 15 and July 25] about 15-20 Chinese soldiers transgressed into the territory at Barahoti that India and China lay claim upon. The soldiers stayed there for a while and returned."

Earlier in July this year, an ANI report claimed, "Recently, a platoon (about 35 soldiers) from the PLA was seen operating around the Barahoti area in Uttarakhand. The Chinese were seen doing some activity in this area after a significant breach."

In order to avoid a Ladakh-like situation in Uttarakhand, the Indian Army has increased deployments in the central sector after hightened Chinese activity was noticed.