Parrikar asks Army to deal firmly with Chinese transgressions in Ladakh

15 March, New Delhi

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has instructed the Indian Army to firmly deal with the incidents of transgressions in Ladakh region, days after Chinese troops came deep inside the Indian territory near Pangong lake area before disengaging.

Parrikar, who is set to travel to Beijing next month on his first official visit to China, is understood to have asked the Army not to lay its guards against the incidents of transgressions in the Ladakh region, which are on increase compared to last year.

On March 8, the incident of transgression was reported when a platoon of at least 11 PLA men led by a Colonel-rank officer crossed over the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at ‘Finger VIII’ Sirjap-I area close to the Pangong lake.

According to reports, the Chinese soldiers entered in four vehicles–two light one medium and one heavy–from across the Thakung border post of India and reached 5.5 km inside Indian territory.

The official sources confirmed that that the number of of transgression have increased in and around the Pangong Tso lake and Chumar region in Ladakh.

There has been 16 incidents of Chinese Army crossing the LOC as perceived by India in first three months of this year alone, compare to 11 incidents of last year’s, the sources said.