Chinese nomads pitch tents inside Indian side with PLA's help

Leh/New Delhi, Sep 16: The stand-off in Demchok area of Ladakh continued for the 10th day on Tuesday with Chinese nomads now reported to have erected tents with the help of Chinese Army inside Indian territory to protest against an ongoing irrigation canal work.

As the BJP MP from Ladakh Thupstan Chewang termed the action as a "mean move by the Chinese Army" ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to India beginning tomorrow, the situation at the Demchok remained unchanged with Chinese civilians refusing to vacate the Indian territory until the work on construction of an irrigation canal was stopped.

"Now this is being mean. Chinese Army has pushed its civilians to force us to stop work on a canal which is being built well within our territory. This time the Chinese People's Liberation Army is sitting at back," Chewang told PTI.

According to sources, Chines 'Rebos'(nomads) have pitched tents inside the Indian territory in Demchok area, 300 kms from Leh, and are refusing to vacate the same till the work was stopped. They had entered about 500 metres deep into Indian territory on the intervening night of September five and six this year.

Civilians from India also camped right at the spot and were refusing to allow the Chinese 'Rebos' to stop the work leading to a tense situation in the area with armies from both sides staging banner drills to protect their civilians, the sources said.

This area is en-route to Kailash Manasarovar in Tibet which India has been requesting Chinese authorities to open as the pilgrimage route from this area was not tedious or risky.

In the adjacent Chumar area, Chinese PLA cordoned a team of 100 Indian soldiers accusing them of having entered into their territory.

However, the Chinese had to leave after more enforcements arrived in the area. The matter was also taken up during a routine Flag meeting held at Chushul.

The Chinese had pitched their tents last year in DBO area in Depsang plains and the stand-off continued for three weeks.

The BJP MP expressed surprise over the "fresh incursion" from the Chinese PLA this time and urged the Centre to take up the matter during upcoming visit of the Chinese President.

The boundary question is expected to be on the agenda of summit talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

PTI