Reported Chinese firing injuring border guards scare residents in Sikkim

Gangtok, Sept 16 (ANI): Reports of Chinese firing injuring border guards in Arunachal Pradesh have caused concern among people in Sikkim.

They said security in the state should be tightened.

"People in our state are feeling insecure after the reports of Chinese incursion. Thus, we feel that security should be increased here as well," said Vishal Cintury, a resident.

Arun Rai, a local journalist said that New Delhi and Beijing should hold high-level talks to sort out the issue.

"In1962, there was some intrusion between India and China so from since then onwards we are feeling insecure like anytime China can attack India, and Sikkim is also part of India. So we are feeling little bit scared. If this issue could solve between high level meeting between India and China, so that would be better," said Arun Rai.

The report has been officially denied by the Government of India on Tuesday.

A spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs denied a media report about two ITBP jawans being injured due to firing from across the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

"A media report about two ITBP jawans having been injured due to firing from across the LAC (Line of Actual Control) has come to notice. The report is factually incorrect," said the MEA spokesman.

The denial comes after intelligence sources had revealed that two jawans of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, were injured in bullets fired from the Chinese side.

This was the first incident where bullets have been fired since the landmark 1996 Sino-India agreement in which both sides pledged not to open fire, no matter what the provocation, as a part of confidence-building measures.

The firing reportedly took place in Kerang in northern Sikkim a fortnight ago but has been kept under wraps. It was confirmed on Monday by a highly-placed intelligence source, Times Now reports.

Sources cited this as yet another instance of China's maintaining pressure on the 2.1 sq km area of 'Finger Point" in northern Sikkim. Last year, China had sent a vehicle-mounted patrol into this area, penetrating 1 km into Indian Territory. (ANI)