Twenty Indian soldiers including a Colonel laid down their lives for India in a “violent face-off” on Monday night with Chinese troops at Ladakh’s Galwan valley, the Army has said in a statement.
New Delhi: Twenty Indian soldiers including a Colonel laid down their lives for India in a “violent face-off” on Monday night with Chinese troops at Ladakh’s Galwan valley, the Army has said in a statement.
The Chinese side has suffered 43 casualties, news agency ANI said citing sources, in the most serious escalation at the border in five decades, at a time soldiers of both sides were in the process of disengagement.
Earlier, Army had reported that an Indian Colonel and two soldiers were killed in action in a massive escalation at a time there were efforts to defuse weeks of tension at the border. India retaliated and there were casualties on both sides, said the army. Army sources say the soldiers were not shot but were killed in a physical fight on Indian Territory that involved stones and batons.
China Should Not Test India’s Resolve: Congress Leader Ashwani Kumar
Former Union Minister and Congress leader Ashwani Kumar on Tuesday said that the violent face-off between troops of India and China is a matter of “serious concern” for the country and said the neighbouring country should not test India’s resolve, reported ANI. “India-China face-off at Ladakh is a matter of serious concern for the country. The tragic martyrdom of soldiers of the Indian Army in aggression by the Chinese troops in Ladakh is testing the nation’s resolve and patience. It is necessary for us to take a strategic view of the situation at border and work for de-escalation of hostilities,” he said.
Words Cannot Describe Pain I Feel: Rahul Gandhi Offers Condolences To Soldiers Killed In Clashes With China
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday expressed condolences over the death of 20 Indian soldiers in a face-off with the Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley, reported ANI.
“Words cannot describe the pain I feel for the officers and men who sacrificed their lives for our country. My condolences to all their loved ones. We stand with you in this difficult time,” Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
UN Chief Expresses Concern Over India-China Border Clashes, Urges “Maximum Retraint”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concern on the reports of violent clashes between India and China on the Line of Actual Control and urged both sides to exercise maximum restraint, reported ANI.
“We are concerned about reports of violence and deaths at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China and urge both sides to exercise maximum restraint. We take positive note of reports that the two countries have engaged to deescalate the situation,” said Eri Kaneko, Associate Spokesperson of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Clashes With China
Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said she was “deeply anguished and pained” over the killing of Indian Army personnel in a clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh, reported ANI.
“My tributes to their undaunting courage and condolences to the bereaved families. We stand together in defending our security and territorial integrity,” she said in a statement. “Deeply anguished and pained by the reports of martyrdom of the brave officer and jawans of our Army in Galwan Valley, Ladakh,” she said.
Twenty Indian Army personnel were killed in clashes with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley on Monday night, the biggest military confrontation in over five decades that has significantly escalated the already volatile border stand-off in the region.
Army Statement On Ladakh Face-Off: Total 20 Jawans Killed In Ladakh
The Army has said that the 17 Indian soldiers, who were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand off location, have died of their injuries.
“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,” the Army said in a statement.
“Indian Army is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation,” the Army statement added.
43 Chinese Casualties, Reports ANI Citing Sources
Indian intercepts have revealed that Chinese side suffered 43 casualties including dead and seriously injured in face-off in the Ladakh’s Galwan valley, news agency ANI has reported citing sources.
Courtesy NDTV
