Indian, Chinese troops clash near Naku La area in Sikkim, injuries reported on both sides
Indian and Chinese soldiers clashed at Naku La in North Sikkim last week, news agency ANI reported. It said that soldiers from both sides suffered injuries, adding that the situation is said to be under control.
According to a PTI report, Chinese troops attempted to transgress into the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) but were stopped by the Indian military personnel. It is learnt that a brawl broke out when the Indian troops stopped the Chinese soldiers.
The Indian Army in a statement clarified that "there was a minor face-off between Indian Army and Chinese PLA troops at Naku La, Sikkim on January 20". "It was resolved by local commanders as per established protocols," it added.
The incident in Sikkim came amid the prolonged military standoff between the two sides in eastern Ladakh that erupted on May 5.
Naku La, incidentally, was one of the original face-off sites, along with Pangong Tso, Galwan, Gogra, Hot Springs, in early-May last year.
Earlier on Sunday, India and China held a 16-hour long marathon military dialogue that eneded at after 2 am on Monday to resolve the border dispute and thinning of forces along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.
READ MORE: India asks China for complete disengagement along LAC at 9th round of military talks
Earlier in June 2020, India lost 20 soldiers during a violent clash at Galwan Valley with Chinese People's Liberation Army soldiers. Chinese never made their casualty public.
India and China are engaged in a nine-month-long standoff at the LAC. Despite several levels of dialogue, there has not been any breakthrough and the deadlock continues.
Following the Ladakh standoff, the Indian Army has significantly bolstered its strength at all its bases along the nearly 3,500 KM-long LAC, the de-facto border between the two nuclear-powered Asian giants.
