New Delhi: Even as the standoff in Eastern Ladakh continues with military commanders of both sides holding the ninth round of talks in Moldo to resolve the border tensions, Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a “minor face-off” at Naku La area in North Sikkim on January 20 and it was resolved by local commanders as per established protocols, the Indian Army said on January 25.
The incident in Sikkim came amid the prolonged military standoff between the two sides in eastern Ladakh that erupted on May 5.
“It is clarified that there was a minor face-off at Naku La area of North Sikkim on January 20 and the same was resolved by local commanders as per established protocols. Media is requested to refrain from overplaying or exaggerating reports which are factually incorrect,” the Army said in a brief statement.
According to media reports quoting sources, Chinese troops attempted to transgress into the Indian side of the frontier but were stopped by the Indian military personnel.
They also said a brawl had broken out between the troops of the two armies.
Naku La is the same spot where the Indian and Chinese troops had engaged in a fierce clash on May 9 last year following a violent face-off between the two sides in Pangong lake area that triggered the military standoff in eastern Ladakh.
Since 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.
India has all along been maintaining that the onus is on China to carry forward the process of disengagement and de-escalation at the friction points in the icy heights of eastern Ladakh.
Close to 100,000 Indian and Chinese troops are deployed in eastern Ladakh as both sides have been holding on to their ground and showing readiness for a long-haul, amid continuing diplomatic and military talks to find an amicable solution.
This is the first account of a physical escalation between personnel of the two powerful armies since the Galwan valley clash on June 15/16 when there were casualties on both sides, with 20 Indian jawans being martyred. The situation at Sikkim is said to be tense but calm now.
