Indian soldiers foil an infiltration attempt by China on the Sikkim border

Gangtok: – Indian soldiers foiled an infiltration attempt by the Chinese soldiers in the Naku La sector and forced them to retreat. There was a fight between the Indian and Chinese soldiers. Some Chinese soldiers were injured in the fight. Four Indian soldiers were wounded too, and the soldiers returned to their posts following a settlement through talks. In 2017, Indian and Chinese soldiers were involved in a face-off for 73 days near the northern Sikkim border in the Doklam Tri Junction area. This is the first time in three years since the Doklam incident that the Indian and Chinese soldiers were involved in such a conflict.

On Saturday, Indian soldiers foiled an infiltration attempt by the Chinese soldiers in the Naku La sector. The Indian soldiers stopped the Chinese soldiers and pushed them out of the Indian border. Nearly 150 soldiers from India and China were involved in the incident. The Indian soldiers even exchanged blows with the Chinese soldiers while pushing them out of the Indian border. Some of the Chinese soldiers were injured in the skirmish. Some reports said that 6 Chinese soldiers were injured in the fight. This dispute was resolved thereafter, through discussions under protocol and the Indian and Chinese soldiers returned to their posts.

The place of the face-off between the Indian and Chinese soldiers is 5,000 feet above sea level, and China claims rights on this region, just like parts of Arunachal, Ladakh and Uttarakhand. This region is strategically crucial as the Siliguri Corridor, which connects the north-eastern states to India, passes close to this region. China has built a road till the Chumbi Valley, just 5 kilometres from the Sikkim border. China claims its rights over northern Sikkim and attempts infiltration, recognising the strategic importance of the region.

Three years ago, India had foiled a Chinese plan to build a road and to increase its grip on the Doklam region. The Chinese soldiers had to retreat from this region near the Bhutan border after 73 days, owing to the firm stand adopted by India. This had majorly impacted the Chinese prestige. Whereas, analysts around the world had noted the way India forced China, who was threatening war, to retreat.

Thereafter, although China increased its soldier deployment in the Doklam region on the Chinese side, a situation of a face-off between the two armies never arose. But on Saturday, the Chinese soldiers once again showed aggression. But the alert Indian soldiers yet again foiled their attempt and forced the Chinese soldiers to retreat, just like Doklam.