Indian Army, PLA meet after face-off on border

New Delhi: A meeting of local commanders of the Indian Army and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is expected to take place on Monday as the face-off between the two sides in the heights of Ladakh’s Burtse area — after Indian troops had demolished a hut constructed by the Chinese illegally on Indian soil — ended in the early hours of Sunday.

ITBP and Army jawans demolished the hut that was constructed 1.5 km inside the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on Friday, leading to a faceoff between the two sides, sources were cited as saying. The area is located 210 km northeast of Leh.

The hut, with a solar panel on top, had a camera which recorded the movement of Indian troops, the sources said while giving details about the incursion.

The construction was done by the Chinese PLA to claim that the area belongs to them.

This area is adjacent to the Depsang plains where PLA had pitched camps in April, 2013 that had led to a three-week long stalemate.

After the demolition of the hut, Indian troops kept the camera and other material, which will be handed over to the Chinese side in the form of evidence during the local Army commanders meeting scheduled for Monday, sources were cited as saying, adding that while earlier the meeting was scheduled for Sunday, it was subsequently postponed for Monday.

China has been trying to make inroads in eastern J&K to monitor the activities of Indian troops.