New Delhi: Three Indian soldiers, including the commanding officer of the Army unit posted in Galwan Valley, have been killed in action following a “violent face off” with Chinese troops Monday night.
Confirming the three deaths in a statement, the Indian Army said casualties have taken place on both sides.
“During de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties on both sides. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation,” the Army statement said.
Sources said the soldiers belonged to 16 Bihar Regiment, and included a junior commissioned officer (JCO) besides the senior officer. The commanding officer of 16 Bihar had held talks with his Chinese counterpart in the Galwan Valley earlier Monday.
The Army said it would provide further details about the incident by evening. Army sources said “no firing” took place.
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The stand-off
India and China have been involved in a stand-off for over a month, after China advanced its troops along the LAC and transgressed it at multiple locations.
Army Chief General M.M. Naravane had said Saturday everything was under control on the country’s borders with China, and expressed hope that the ongoing dialogue would settle all the perceived differences between the two countries.
“I would like to assure everyone that the entire situation along our borders with China is under control. We are having a series of talks which started with corps commander-level talks, which was followed up with meetings at the local level between commanders of equivalent ranks,” Naravane had told reporters at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun.
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