Chinese troops enter Indian territory again

Leh/Srinagar, Jan 9 (PTI) After remaining peaceful for
most of the year, Chinese troops entered Indian territory in
the fag end of 2010 along the Line of Actual Control in
South-eastern Ladakh region and threatened a contractor and
his team to halt work on constructing a "passenger shed".
The Chinese troops, which included motor-cycle borne
personnel of People's Liberation Army (PLA), entered Gombir
area in Demchok region in Jammu and Kashmir and threatened the
civilian workers who were building the shed, the plan for
which was cleared by the state rural development department,
according to details accessed by PTI.
The incident took place in September-October last year
in a village about 300-kms south-east of Leh district
headquarters.
An official report, which was prepared after a meeting
of officials from civilian administration, army, central
security agencies and Indo-Tibetan Border Police, stated that
a passenger shed was approved at an estimated cost of Rs two
lakh to be built at 'T' point in village Gombir under the
Border Area Development Project of Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Chinese army -- PLA -- came to the 'T' point and
asked the contractor to stop the work, the report said. An
official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the
arrival of Chinese troops, some of whom were ironically on
motorcycle, triggered panic among the workers who rushed to
the nearby Army post for help.
The Chinese troops also shouted some slogans which could
not be translated by the officials, the official said.
The Army was quick in responding and asked the state
government to maintain status quo, the report said and added
that the 3 Infantry Division asked the state Government to
take the permission of Ministry of Defence before carrying out
any construction activities at least 50 kilometres of the Line
of Actual Control.
When contacted, Lt Col J S Brar, who officiates as
spokesperson for Leh-based 14 Corps, refused to comment on the
issue.
According to the report, the civil administration
proceeded on field verification to the area on October two,
2010 and on the next day, Army wrote to the administration to
seek Defence Ministry's clearance for any project within 50
kms of Border.
The Civil administration said it was baffled by the
Army's missive as this would mean entire Nyoma sub-division
would get affected in the matter of developmental work.
The state Government had planned construction of seven
link-roads in Nyoma and Damchok areas to increase connectivity
and provide job opportunity to the people of this remote and
treacherous mountain region, which is close to the Line of
Actual Control.