New Delhi: According to an Indian Army statement, the Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at Galwan area in Ladakh. Earlier, the area witnessed a 'violent clash' between both the forces leaving 20 soldiers dead.
In the statement the Army said that the soldiers, who were exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain, have succumbed to their injuries.
The Indian Army also stated that it is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation.
This is the first big violent incident between the two militaries in the last 45 years.
Read: India, China armies’ brawl at Galwan takes deadly turn, at least 20 Indian soldiers dead
According to unconfirmed reports, the incident took place on Monday evening at patrol point 14 (PP-14). This is also the spot where the two armies led by their senior officials meet formally ensure ‘compliance’ as laid down in the de-escalation rules agreed to during a meeting of the corps commanders (lieutenant-general ranked) held at Chushul-Moldo on June 6.
While both militaries denied that a gunfight had ensued at PP 14, they accepted that a hand-to-hand combat took place well into the night which involved fisticuffs, stone-throwing and use of iron-rods and sharp instruments possibly including bayonets.
However, according to unconfirmed sources, quite a few of the bodies had bullet injuries.
For more than a month, the world’s two biggest armies had been engaged in a face-off in at least four different points spread across the Pangong lake, Galwan Valley and the Hot Springs area in eastern Ladakh. With tensions escalating, both countries had mobilized thousands of additional troops, heavy vehicles and artillery in the rear positions of the face-off points transported both through roads and air force sorties.
