SRINAGAR: Chinese army has set free 10 soldiers on Thursday evening after the two sides reached an agreement, The Hindu reported. Those set free after three days of detention included a lieutenant Colonel and three Major rank officers.
“A security source told The Hindu that all 10 persons were released around 5 p.m. after an agreement was reached at the Major General-level talks on Wednesday evening and they were returned unharmed,” the newspaper reported. “The third round of talks at the Major General-level were held in the Galwan area. Specific outcomes from Thursday’s meeting were not immediately known, but a source said the talks were positive and there would be more meetings in the coming days. The effort was to reduce tensions on the ground and implement the consensus agreed on June 6 for de-escalation, the source added.”
The newspaper added: “In the first combat fatalities in 45 years along the LAC, 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash after they were attacked by Chinese troops. About 80 Indian troops were also injured and all of them are said to be stable.”
Meanwhile, TV journalist Barkha Dutt who extensively covered the Kargil war and made it a war that was broadcast literally live has landed in Leh. Though not working for any TV channel she is using her own social media platform called Mojo.
“76 soldiers were also injured in the clash with Chinese troops the army confirmed here in Leh today. 18 are in Leh Hospital and 58 at other hospitals. None are critical. That’s a tiny relief,” Dutt wrote on twitter.
“Out of these, 18 soldiers are being treated for injuries at the Army hospital in Leh and will be discharged in about 15 days. The remaining 58 soldiers are undergoing treatment at various hospitals and will be able to return for duty within a week,” India Today reported. “The 58 soldiers who are being treated at various hospitals incurred only minor injuries.”
Twenty soldiers including Colonel rank officer who was heading the unit were killed in the clashes on Monday night. India said and China confirmed that PLA also suffered casualties but no numbers were given. Based on the inputs that US intelligence has shared, India said China suffered 35 casualties.
