New Delhi: As part of its exercise to step security measures along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the Sino-Indian border, the Indian Army has now deployed motion-sensitive cameras and sensors to monitor Chinese activity. The equipment includes PTZ (pan tilt zoom) cameras and sensors, sources said.

Such state-of-the-art equipment will not only enable the Indian Army to keep track of the adversary but also send out a timely warning in case of any escalations. The plan to set up a surveillance net along the LAC had been in play for some time but the military standoff in eastern Ladakh has prompted the top brass to fast-track the process, sources said.

A proposal to use motion-sensitive cameras and sensors along the LAC in eastern Ladakh was even made to the Parliamentary standing committee on Defence a few years ago. It is only now coming to light that the number of tents set up by the Chinese PLA at Charding Nallah in Demchok in eastern Ladakh has come down. This disputed area is around 10 km from the spot where an escalation was recorded in the summer of last year. The number of tents, in which PLA men reside as civilians, had gone up to around 10 during the escalation last year.

Even in 2019, the Charding Nallah had become a point of contention when Chinese troops had pitched tents on the spot. The move had resulted in opposition from the Indian side, sources said. The Charding Nallah is also the area near Demchok sector where Indian troops have been deployed in large numbers to counter any eventuality.

Sources said India and China will further discuss disengagement during the 12th round of talks to be held in the next few days. The Chinese had suggested that the talks be held on July 26. However, India had sought a different date for the talks since July 26 is celebrated as Kargil Vijay Diwas in honour of the Indian Army’s victory over Pakistan in 1999.