Already engaged in a military standoff with India in eastern Ladakh for more than a year now, the Chinese Army has heightened its activities along the Barahoti area of Uttarakhand along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). A platoon of 40 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops was seen patrolling in the area recently. The movement on the Chinese side in the area has reportedly been seen after a gap of more than six months.
“Recently, a PLA platoon was seen operating around the Barahoti area in Uttarakhand and surveyed the area around there. The Chinese have been seen doing some activity around this area after a significant gap,” ANI quoted defence sources as saying. “The Chinese troops were constantly monitored in the area during their stay there,” they said.
The sources said the Indian side is on high alert and has made adequate arrangements in the area. Sources said the security establishment feels that the Chinese may attempt some activity in this area but the Indian operational preparedness is high all along the central sector.
Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and Central Army chief Lt Gen Y. Dimri have also visited the central sector boundary with China in recent times to review the situation and operational preparedness there, they said.
The Chinese activity at an air base near the Barahoti area has also gone up and a large number of drones have been deployed by them there, they said. India has positioned additional troops in the central sector and many rear formations have gone ahead there, the sources said.
The Indian Air Force has also activated a few air bases there including the Chinyalisaund advanced landing ground where the An-32s have been making frequent landings.
The Chinook heavy-lift helicopters are also operational in that area and can carry out inter-valley troop transfers, whenever required.
India and China are face to face militarily at multiple friction points in eastern Ladakh since May last year. The two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong Lake in February following a series of military and diplomatic talks. The two sides are now engaged in talks to extend the disengagement process to the remaining friction points.
According to senior Army officials, each side currently has around 50,000 troops along the LAC in the sensitive sector.
ANI
