NEW DELHI: Armed troops of nuclear armed neighbours India and China clashed along a section of the boundary in North Sikkim, leading to injuries to atleast 11 troops, including four from the Indian side.
Aggressive behaviour and minor injuries to both sides took place, sources confirmed. Some 150 troops are believed to have been involved in the fracas in which blows were exchanged.
In an earlier incident in 2017 at Pangong Tso (lake) in eastern Ladakh, troops had hurled stones at each other.
“Troops disengaged after dialogue and interaction at local level,” Army officials confirmed Sunday morning about the incident in Sikkim. At least four Indian and seven Chinese troops are said to be injured.
The incident occurred on Saturday in what is the ‘Naku La sector’ ahead of Muguthang, a pass at an altitude of more than 16,000 feet. The section of the boundary is not resolved. India and China have a un-demarcated 3448 km boundary called the Line of Actual Control (LAC) running all along the Himalayan ridgeline in an east-west alignment.
“Temporary and short duration face-offs occur in the summer months as patrols on both sides are resumed,” said a senior functionary.
Military observors point out that both the armies have been aggressive in the past decade or so. The reach of the troops has increased, with better communication and information about each other’s patrol movement and it helps prepare a response to counter it.
As per the existing protocol when troops of either side come face-to-face along the disputed sections of the LAC, they ask either side to return.