Chinese troops transgress into Uttarakhand area

Mukesh Ranjan &

Shaurya Karanbir Gurung

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 27

Chinese troops transgressed the border on land and by air in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand earlier this month when its men stationed themselves in a dimilitarised zone and its helicopters flew in the Indian air space for over five minutes in the same area, official sources said.

The Chinese helicopter violated the Indian airspace on July 25. The land incursion took place on July 22 in Barahoti area of Uttarakhand, prompting the security establishment to review the security along the 350-km border with Tibet. 

While Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat said this was “something to worry about”, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said the ITBP was seized of the matter.

Rawat said revenue officials were mapping the land when they noticed the presence of Chinese troops. An official said a 15-member team consisting of civil and ITBP officials that visited Barahoti found "eight platoons of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.”

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Incursions at Barahoti have occurred in the past too. Of the seven disputed areas between India and China, one of them is Barahoti. The ITBP jawans are not allowed to take their weapons here as per the unilateral decision of the then government in June 2000.  On April 19, 1958, China sent its delegation for talks with the Indian counterparts. Both  agreed not to send troops into the area.