SRINAGAR: Chinese army and some civilians have entered on the other side of the Sindu river in the Demchuk region of Ladakh, and displayed banners and Chinese flag in protest when Indian villagers were celebrating the birthday of the Dalai Lama.
“The incident happened on July 6 at Doley Tango near Koyul which is around 30 kilometers southeast of Demchok,” News18 quoted sources as having said.
On social media, videos have surfaced in which China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) can be seen standing across river Indus with banners. Another video shows villagers holding the Dalai Lama’s portrait atop a vehicle as a small cavalcade rally around the village.
B'day celebration of @DalaiLama by Indians bang on LAC village in Demchok area of Ladakh irks #China, Chinese soldiers & civilians hold banner drill in protest. Two years ago too similiar scene was witnessed.
Video: 6th July '21 pic.twitter.com/Inll6ozryI— Neeraj Rajput (@neeraj_rajput) July 13, 2021
Quoting officials News18 reported that while the festivities were on, the Chinese kept a vigil from distance and conveyed their objection. “They didn’t enter the village but did transgress a bit into Indian territory,” News18 quoted an official as saying.
According to reports, Chinese troops stayed on the Indian territory for about 30 minutes. At least five vehicles can be seen in the video. Locals said Chinese troops were accompanied by civilians.
Last week, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi had greeted the Dalai Lama on his 86th birthday. After becoming the Prime Minister in 2014, this is the first time Narendra Modi has openly confirmed communicating with the Dalai Lama.
Pertinently, India and China have been locked in a dispute over eastern Ladakh since the Galwan incident of June 2020. Two sides have had 11 rounds of military talks to resolve the eastern Ladakh flashpoints but friction points remain over Gogra, Hot springs, Demchok, and Depsang.
