At Least 20 Indian Soldiers Killed In Violent Clash With China In Ladakh's Galwan Valley
India blames China for the violent clashes, in official statements released.
At least 20 Indian soldiers, including a Colonel, have been killed in a "violent face-off" on Monday night with Chinese troops at Galwan Valley in Ladakh. This is the most serious escalation at the Indo-China border region in five decades.
News agency ANI, quoting sources, said more than 43 Chinese soldiers have been killed or seriously injured.
India said the clashes happened "as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo there", rebutting China's claims that Indian soldiers crossed the border.
This is the first fatal clash since 1975 between India and China, who fought a border war in 1962.
At least 20 Indian soldiers killed in the violent face-off with China in Galwan valley in Eastern Ladakh. Casualty numbers could rise: Government Sources pic.twitter.com/PxePv8zGz4
¡ª ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020
Colonel B Santosh Babu of the Bihar regiment, Havildar Palani and Sepoy Ojha are three of the names confirmed by the Indian Army.
"During the 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 official Indian Army statement said.
India committed to protect territory
India has released a statement saying the ¡®Indian Army is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation.¡¯
¡®Indian Army is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation.¡¯
¡ª Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) June 16, 2020
Full Indian Army Statement ? pic.twitter.com/CHcYeew2TX
Reports suggest that the Indian soldiers were not shot but were killed in a physical fight on Indian Territory that involved stones and batons, said the Indian Army.
"There was no firing. No firearms were used. It was violent hand-to-hand scuffles," an unnamed officer was quoted by news agency Agence France Presse as saying.
The fatal clash took place when Chinese troops were getting ready to move away from a location per an agreement between both countries.
REUTERS
According to reports, the Colonel was reportedly assaulted with stones and Indian soldiers retaliated, which led to close unarmed combat for several hours.
China's diplomatic response
China, in an aggressive statement, accused India of crossing the border, "attacking Chinese personnel", reported AFP.
Chief editor of Chinese government mouthpiece Global Times admitted casualties on the Chinese side. "Based on what I know, Chinese side also suffered casualties in the Galwan Valley physical clash. I want to tell the Indian side, don't be arrogant and misread China's restraint as being weak. China doesn't want to have a clash with India, but we don't fear it," tweeted Hu Xijin, Editor-in-Chief of Global Times.
China's Foreign Ministry was quoted by Reuters as saying India should not take unilateral actions or stir up trouble.
"What's shocking is that on June 15, the Indian side severely violated our consensus and twice crossed the border line and provoked and attacked the Chinese forces, causing a violent physical confrontation between the two border forces," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters in Beijing. "China is raising strong opposition and stern representations to the Indian side on this," he said.
