The Indian Army apprehended a Chinese soldier near Gurung hill in the Chushul sector of eastern Ladakh on Friday morning. According to the inputs, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldier apparently lost his way and entered the Indian territory inadvertently.
The Chinese soldier will either be returned later today or on Sunday after investigating the circumstances under which the PLA soldier strayed across the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Formalities are underway to return the Chinese soldier at a border meeting point.
In an official statement, the Indian Army said the Chinese soldier was apprehended on the Indian side during the early hours of Friday. He was taken into custody by the Indian Army.
“The PLA soldier had transgressed across the LAC and was taken into custody by Indian troops deployed in this area. Troops from either side are deployed along the LAC since friction erupted last year due to unprecedented mobilisation and forward concentration by Chinese troops,” the Indian Army said.
The army said the Chinese soldier is “being dealt with as per laid down procedures”. It said the circumstances under which the Chinese soldier had crossed the LAC are being investigated.
In October 2020, the Indian Army had captured a PLA soldier, identified as Corporal Wang Ya Long, near Demchok area of Ladakh. The PLA soldier was carrying civil and military documents when he was captured in Ladakh by the Indian Army.
Corporal Wang Ya Long was provided medical assistant after he was captured and was handed back to China a day later on October 21. Unlike Corporal Wang Ya Long, it is not known if the Chinese soldier who was captured on Friday was also carrying any documents.
The tensions started with skirmishes in Pangong Tso lake in May when troops came to blows on more than one occasion, leaving many injured on both sides. On June 15, in an ugly clash in the Galwan Valley, 20 Indian soldiers died, while the Chinese never made their casualty public.
There have been eight rounds of military talks at the Corps Commander level to find a solution to the standoff that started early May but the deadlock continues.
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.
