SRINAGAR: Apparently stealing a leaf from Srinagar streets, the Indian and Chinese armies have resorted to stone pelting on each other. Interestingly, it was reported in Ladakh frontiers, also part of the J&K state.

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Reports appearing in media suggest that the Red Army contingents attempted entering into two parts of J&K in Western Ladakh. As the Indian army resisted, scuffles broke out. Later when retreating Chinese soldiers hurled stones on them, the Indian army soldiers retaliated.

A KL file Image of Indian and Chinese army officers holding a meet in Ladakh.

“The confrontation between the rival soldiers took place on the north bank of the Pangong Tso (Tso means lake) in eastern Ladakh, two-thirds of which is controlled by China as it extends from Tibet to India, early on Tuesday morning,” Times of India reported. “There was a scuffle between the two sides, which included some stone-pelting as well, after Indian soldiers blocked two attempts by People’s Liberation Army troops to enter Indian territory at the Finger-4 and Finger-5 areas early in the morning.”

The report further added: “Personnel from both sides received some injuries in the stone-pelting. The rival troops later pulled back from the confrontation site after banner drills to defuse the situation.” The report, however, said the army refused to confirm the incident.

Tuesday standoff last 30 minutes, according to reports.

Youth engaging government forces in pitched battle in Nowhatta Srinagar (KL Image: Bilal Bahadur)

Though the past summer the two armies had a series of meetings on the Line of Actual Control and had joint feasting many times, the Eastern Ladakh has started re-emerging a tense belt for the two sides. Red Army has tried blocking developmental activities in Chumarr, Depsang and Pangong Tso, in the last few years. During 2013 summer, the two sides were engaged in a 21-day standoff in Despand belt.

Off late, the two sides are managing the Pangong lake with motorized boats and transgression is just a routine, the newspaper said. China has already constructed an access road up to the last point of lake.

“Indian forces are now armed with high-speed interceptor boats, bought from the US, which can accommodate nearly 15 soldiers and are equipped with radars, infra-red and GPS systems,” DNA, another newspaper reported. “These boats are said to be as good as Chinese vessels and are used to conduct reconnaissance and area domination patrols.”

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