NewsGate Press Network

In a worst hand-to-hand combat clash along the LAC (Line of Actual Control) 20 Indian Army soldiers were killed in a violent ambush by the Chinese army units.

The incident took place in Galwan Valley area in Eastern Ladhak almost throughout the night of 15/16 June 2020.

News agency ANI reported that Chinese may have suffered 43 casualties in their camp.

According to Defence Ministry sources, Chinese PLA attacked Indian troops with improvised sharp edged handheld spears and steel nets.

In a statement issued late on Tuesday evening, the Army PRO stated:

“Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at the Galwan area where they had earlier clashed on the night of 15/16 June 2020. 17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand off location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20 Indian Army is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation.”

Earlier in the day, Army statement had stated that three of their men including a Colonel rank officer had died while defending the Indian territory in Ladhak.

The last time Indian soldiers lost their lives along the Chinese LAC was in 1975 when PLA had crossed over into the Indian territory at Tulung La in Arunachal Pradesh and killed four Assam Rifles soldiers at point blank range.

The India-China border along the 3,488 kms is not yet demarcated as per the Vienna Convention. Border along the LAC is guarded by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Force along with the Army units.

After 2004, ITBP is the designated border guarding force along the LAC replacing Assam Rifles.