New Delhi: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's talks with Chinese president Xi Jinping in New Delhi, as many as 100 soldiers of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) reportedly made a fresh incursion into the Chumar sector in Ladakh on Thursday morning. Sources said that troops arrived from a hillock of Chumar area and strengthened its numbers to nearly 350.
Reports suggested that India also rushed some more troops in the area and both sides were indulging in repeated banner drill.
On Wednesday, the Brigadier-level flag meeting was held at a border personnel meeting point in Chushul to defuse the situation. This was the second flag meeting that has taken place in the last one week.
Meanwhile, reports said that National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval himself is monitoring the situation of Ladakh.
It is also believed that Modi, during an informally discussion with Xi on Wednesday, had raised the issue.
Syed Akbaruddin, official spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs, on Thursday morning said that the Prime Minister will once again raise this issue ‘aggressively' during the talks with Xi.
“These issues have been raised and issues of recent concerned will also continue to be discussed today,” he said.
Chumar, located more than 300 kms Northeast of Leh and bordering Himachal Pradesh, has been a flash point between the two sides with Chinese making several attempts to end India's dominance in the area.
The PLA has been making repeated bids to claim Chumar as part of Chinese territory but has been thwarted every time by the Indian Army.
Sources also said that vehicular movement on Chinese side was noticed and it was believed that Chinese PLA was indulging in face off tactics only to divert attention of India about construction work being undertaken on their side.
