SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s junior minister for Home Affairs, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo says the state government has written to New Delhi about the Chinese incursion in Ladakh.
“Chinese incursion in Ladakh region of the state is a matter of concern,” the Minister told reporters at the sidelines of a function in Jammu.
Kitchloo said the state is waiting for a reaction from the union government.
Several dozen Chinese soldiers have set up a remote camp some 10 km (6 miles) inside territory claimed by India in the high altitude Himalayan desert of Ladakh, police sources said, in a possible return to border tension between the Asian giants.
An Indian foreign ministry spokesman said the two countries were in touch with each other to resolve the row. The ill-defined border has fuelled 50 years of mistrust despite blossoming economic ties.
The Indian army set up its own temporary camp just 500 meters (1600 feet) from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers after the incident on April 15, a senior police official stationed close to the border told the Reuters news agency.
“The PLA pitched tents inside Indian territory and established temporary posts there”, the official said. He said two helicopters gave support to the Chinese as they set up the camp on the Indian side of the disputed border.
“On April 17, 5th Battalion of Ladakh Scouts was sent to the sector to take on the PLA challenge and they are also camping there now,” the official said.
Meanwhile, reacting to reports of the arrest of a Special Police Officer deployed with the former state Minister having alleged links with the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant group, the home minister said “he was not an SPO but a civilian.”
“During a raid conducted in his residence, an Ak-47 rifle was recovered from his possession,” he said adding that the matter was being investigated.
