Indian Army seizes 'another' Chinese soldier in eastern Ladakh along LAC

New Delhi, Jan 9: Amid the India-China border standoff, the Indian Army apprehended a Chinese soldier on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) near the south bank of Pangong Tso in Ladakh on Friday, the Indian Army said.

 

The Chinese soldier was caught near Gurung hill in the Chushul sector of eastern Ladakh on Friday morning. "The People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldier had transgressed across the LAC and was taken into custody by Indian troops deployed in this area", it added. According to the reports, he "apparently lost his way and entered the Indian territory inadvertently".

 

 

The PLA soldier is being dealt with as per laid down procedures and circumstances under which he had crossed the LAC and is being investigated. The Chinese Army has been informed about their soldier in Indian custody. Both sides are in touch over the issue, they added. The Chinese soldier will be returned later today or on Sunday after investigating the circumstances under which the PLA soldier strayed across LAC.

 

In October 2020, the Indian Army had captured a PLA soldier, identified as Corporal Wang Ya Long, near the Demchok area of Ladakh. He was apprehended in the Demchok sector of eastern Ladakh after he had strayed across the LAC, the Indian Army said in a statement. They said he might have entered Indian territory inadvertently and will be returned to the Chinese army as per established protocol after following due procedure.

 

India and China have been involved in a border standoff at the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh since May. Tension escalated on June 19 when 20 Indian soldiers were killed during a clash with Chinese troops at Galwan Valley. There have been eight rounds of military and diplomatic talks between the two countries to resolve the standoff so far.

 

Despite the previous talks on November 6 on a disengagement plan, there has been no forward movement and no further dialogue has taken place to implement measures discussed to ease out tensions. China is also acting reluctant to have another round of talks to discuss "complete disengagement" along the LAC.