MEA terms reports of Chinese incursion as 'baseless'

New Delhi, Jan 10 (PTI) The External Affairs ministry
was at odds with the Jammu and Kashmir government over reports
on Chinese intrusion in Ladakh, saying no such incident had
taken place and the media reports carrying the same were
"baseless".

Reacting to media reports about Chinese troops
intrusion in the Demchok area of Leh district in the state,
Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said, "We have time and
again said that there are differences in perception of the
Line of Actual Control in this segment... As far as this
particular incident, we are not aware of specific
transgression..."
She also said the ministry will get in touch with the
state government on this.
"I have only seen press reports emanating from Jammu
and Kashmir government on this and we will of course get in
touch with the J&K government," she said on the sidelines of a
function to mark World Hindi Day here.
Quoting Leh Deputy Commissioner T Angchuk, a media
report had said, "The Chinese troops objected to the
construction work last October. The matter was brought before
both the ITBP and Army, manning the border, but they directed
us to stop construction work."
According to an official report, details of which were
accessed by PTI, 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.
In a statement, the MEA said, "Government have seen
media reports alleging Chinese troop intrusion in the Demchok
area of Leh District in Jammu and Kashmir. These reports are
baseless and do not conform to fact.
"They are, therefore, not a cause for concern. It will
be recollected that there are differences in perception,
between India and China, on the Line of Actual Control in this
area."
Asking media to exercise restraint in highlighting
such issues on which there were differences in perception
between the two countries, Rao said "the LoAC has remained
peaceful for many years now. It is our intension that it
should remain peaceful in time to come also." PTI RKM
RCJ