Chinese incursions at Uttarakhand have taken place 37 times between 2007-2012

The incident comes a year after the Peoples' Liberation Army were spotted on the Indian side at the same area.

New Delhi has sought to play down the latest Chinese incursion at Barahoti in Chamoli district in Uttarakhand. The incident occurred in the last week of July. A top official in Delhi when contacted about the incident said that such issues have taken past several times in the past and sorted out locally. The incident lasted for around two hours before the Chinese army personnel went back, sources said.

The state administration admitted that there was an incident that took place. However since it was a matter of strategic affairs, it was left to the centre to sort it out.

The incident comes a year after the Peoples' Liberation Army were spotted on the Indian side at the same area. The Chinese army personnel had appeared out of the mist and signalled to the Indian side to go back. While the issue was sorted out, the centre had said that the mutually agreed norm was not violated.

These issues have been reported from the same area in 1958. That year a Chinese
delegation had visited India. It was decided that both countries will not send troops into this area. It was also agreed upon that only shepherds would be allowed into this area.

However, a final settlement on this dispute is still awaited.

On such incursions, the ITBP has sent reports to the home ministry. At a Chief Minister's conference it was stated that the Chinese had entered this territory at least 37 times between 2007 and 2012.

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