During the Pangong Tso confrontation last week, Indian Army soldiers occupied hill tops before the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops despite the presence of surveillance equipment and cameras placed by the Chinese Army near southern bank of Pangong lake, a report said on Tuesday.
As per sources mentioned by news agency IANS, the PLA troops began climbing a table-top area between Black Top and Thakung Heights at Pangong Tso’s south bank with the help of ropes and other climbing equipment. The Indian Army soon swung into action after sensing the commotion.
Meanwhile, sources told news agency ANI: “The Chinese Army has deployed advanced cameras and surveillance equipment to monitor Indian activities near the dormant height but despite that, the Indian troops managed to occupy height there.”
Notably, in order to keep an eye on Indian activities, the Chinese Army has installed such equipment all along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). As per sources, the Chinese have removed cameras and surveillance equipment after the Indian side occupied the dormant height within its territory.
China claims its authority over the height and seeks to capture it in a bid to earn an advantageous position all along the southern bank of Pangong lake area and the nearby Spangur Gap.
ANI has mentioned sources as saying that the Indian side was well prepared to respond to the Chinese reaction in the wake of the action by its own troops, including Sikh Light Infantry troops and a Special Operations unit there. This is to be noted that an Indian Army jawan, who was patrolling the area, lost his life due to an anti-personnel mine explosion.
The Indian side has deployed armoured regiments, including the BMP Infantry Combat Vehicles, and stationed various types of tanks from armoured divisions.
In the latest development, the Indian and Chinese militaries started another round of talks at Chushul today to resolve the matter related to fresh confrontation at Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh.
“A Brigade Commander-level talk started at 10 am in Chushul on the Indian side,” said a source.
The talks reportedly focus on the latest development at three contentious points on the southern banks of the Pangong lake. India has also expressed concern regarding the Chinese deployment in areas near the Black Top and Helmet Top.
The two sides held talks for five hours on Monday also.
In a statement, the Indian Army said that the PLA troops, on the intervening night of August 29 and August 30, 2020, carried out provocative military movements to change the status quo.
“Indian troops pre-empted this PLA activity on the southern bank of Pangong lake, and undertook measures to strengthen our positions and thwart Chinese intentions to unilaterally change facts on the ground,” the force said.
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