India on Monday termed as “utterly baseless, malicious and mischievous” a report about casualties of Indian soldiers in Sikkim due to military action with another country.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay also said that no cognisance should be taken of these reports by responsible media.
“Such reports are utterly baseless, malicious and mischievous,” Baglay said in response to a query on reports in Pakistani media.
His reaction came after a Pakistani media organisation reported at least 158 Indian soldiers have been killed on Monday as China fired rockets across the border on Indian border installations.
Dunya news cited a two-minute video footage that was broadcasted by the China Central Television (CCTV). The video footage showed the Chinese soldiers attacking an Indian posts using rocket launchers, machine guns, and mortars.
The incident comes amidst the ongoing military standoff between Indian and Chinese troops at Doklam along the Bhutan-Sikkim-China tri-junction. The stand-off emerged after Chinese troops were stopped by the Indian Army from constructing roads in the Doklam border.
India claims Sikkim border as part of its territory, while China has said that the area falls on their side as per the 1890 treaty signed between British and China.
Consequently, China suspended the annual Kailash Manasarovar yatra and conceded that the decision to suspend the pilgrimage was due to the border scuffle.
Beijing has accused New Delhi of violating a convention signed in 1890 between Britain and China relating to Sikkim and Tibet.
