PM Modi Reviews LAC Stand-Off With Rajnath Singh, Army Chief

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the violent face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan Valley of Eastern Ladakh on Monday night in which 20 Indian soldiers were martyred, media reports stated. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of Army Staff General MM Narawane were also said to have been present at the review meeting.

The review meeting of the Prime Minister comes in the wake of violent clashes between Indian and Chinese soldiers of an unprecedented scale. The LAC violence claimed the lives of 20 Indian braves.

A statement put out by the Ministry of external affairs stated that Chinese troops failed to adhere to the agreement which was arrived at earlier between both sides. The clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers at Valley could have been avoided, the MEA response said.

China is trying to alter the status quo on the border at Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh, experts say, and its aggressive posturing has now resulted in this serious violent clash leaving 20 Indian soldiers martyred. The Monday night clash between Indian and Chinese troops at Galwan Valley is the most serious incident of violence between troops of both sides involving loss of lives since 1975.

Media reports stated that the Chinese troops had also suffered serious casualties, some putting the figure at 43. According to one media source, the casualty figure suffered on the Chinese side was placed at 35 by US Intelligence.

China has been resorting to aggressive posturing on the border in three to four points in the Eastern Ladakh sector for more than six weeks now. Indian and Chinese troops had clashed earlier resulting in injuries to soldiers on both sides. Following a series of meetings between military officials of both sides culminating in a consensus on June 6, India and China decided to begin a process of disengagement of troops. India has now pointed a finger at China on going back on the agreement.