With the reported face-off between troops of India and China in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang sector snowballing into a major political ruckus in the Indian parliament, the country's defence minister on Tuesday (13) said no loss of life or any serious injuries to any Indian soldier was reported during the incident.
Rajnath Singh, who belongs to prime minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, told the parliament that the Indian forces stopped the neighbouring country's People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops when they tried to change the sector's status quo. He said the Indian troops prevented their Chinese counterparts from encroaching upon India's territory and forced them to return to their post.
The minister also gave details of the clash between the two militaries that happened on Friday (9), in which both the nuclear-armed neighbours suffered 'minor injuries'. According to Singh, the Chinese side took up the matter through diplomatic channels.
It has been reported that the two countries' soldiers were involved in a face-off in the Yangste area near Tawang on Friday that resulted in the injuries.
Six Indian soldiers were reportedly injured in the clashes and were airlifted to the 151 base hospital in Basistha in Arunachal's neighbouring state of Assam for treatment.
"On December 9 in Yangtse area of Tawang sector PLA troops encroached upon and attempted to change status quo.This attempt was tackled by our troops in a determined manner. Our troops bravely stopped PLA from encroaching upon our territory and forced them to go back to their post," Singh was quoted as saying by India Today.
"Due to the timely intervention of the Indian military commander, PLA soldiers were forced to retreat. The area's local commander on December 11 held a flag meeting with his Chinese counterpart over the incident.
"The ensuing face off led to a physical scuffle in which the Indian Army bravely prevented the PLA from transgressing into our territory and compelled them to return to their posts
"Our troops tackled this attempt in a determined manner. There was physical combat in this face-off. Our troops bravely stopped the PLA from the incursion, and forced to return to their posts. In this fight, soldiers of both sides were injured. I want to assure the House, that no Indian soldier was killed or severely injured," the minister added.
"The Chinese side was asked to refrain from such actions and maintain peace and tranquility along the border. The issue has also been taken up with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels," Singh said.
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