Chinese troops camp in Uttarakhand's Chamoli, PLA helicopter violates Indian airspace

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Wednesday confirmed Chinese incursion into the Indian territory at Barahoti in Chamoli district of the state.

Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Wednesday confirmed Chinese incursion on two occasions into the Indian territory at Barahoti in Chamoli district of the state.

On July 19, Chinese troops had violated the border in Chamoli district and were seen camping along with arms.

Reports said that China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops had sent back a team led by Chamoli District Magistrate and others including officials from ITBP, who had gone for a survey of Barahoti ground. The Chinese troops claimed that it was their land.

In another incident, a helicopter of PLA violated the Indian airspace in Uttarkhand on July 19.

After hovering over the Indian airspace for nearly five minutes, the helicopter disappeared and flew back into the Chinese airspace.

"This is a matter of concern. Our border has been peaceful. We have asked to increase vigilance. I believe the government will take necessary cognisance and the information is absoluely correct," Rawat said.

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said ITBP had been asked to look into the matter.

The incident comes a month after a Chinese fighter-bomber jet violated the Indian airspace in the Aksai Chin area near the Indo-China international border.

On June 9, a fresh incursion by the Chinese troops into Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh led to a minor scuffle and triggered tension between the two sides.

However, the issue was resolved soon and the Chinese offered chocolates as a gesture of peace and returned back. According to reports, around 250 Chinese troops transgressed to the Indian side in the Yangtse sector, approximately 650 metres east of Shankar Tiki, an area where Indian soldiers are stationed in a sizeable number.

Earlier this year, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had said in a written reply in Lok Sabha, "There is no commonly delineated LAC between India and China. There are areas along the border where India and China differing perception of LAC. Due to both sides undertaking patrolling up to their perception of LAC, transgressions do occur. Such transgressions have also occurred in the general area of Chumar, However, no incursion into the Indian territory by China has taken place."

Indo Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) has sent a report to the Union Home Ministry on the latest Chinese transgression.