Indian Army Clashed Twice With China in Last 15 Months, held covert LAC operations

New Delhi: The Indian Army personnel clashed with the Chinese counterpart at least twice in 15 months along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Added to it, multiple covert operations were taken up during these 15 months along the LAC to keep watch on the activities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China during “times of crisis”.

These clashes and the covert operations came in the open after the Western Army Command, Chandimandir, and the Central Army Command, Lucknow, conducted separate investitures over the past three days to award gallantry medals to officers and men, reported The Tribune.

These operations were conducted between September 2021 and November 2022. The details were announced as citations were read out when each of the gallantry awards was pinned onto the chest of soldiers. These operations along the LAC were previously unreported.

The Western Command has disabled a YouTube video it put out of the event. The Central Command YouTube link was working till Monday evening, The Tribune report added.

Detailing the clashes, the Western Command investiture mentioned how PLA troops attacked the Indian Army post at Shankar Tekri along the LAC on January 7, 2022. “With unmatched valour, Sepoy Raman Singh from the 8th Battalion of the Sikh Light Infantry confronted the intruders in a brutal hand-to-hand battle. He repelled the attack by seriously wounding four Chinese soldiers and taking their guns,” said the citation. He was awarded the Sena Medal (Gallantry).

Another clash took place on November 27, 2022, when some 50 PLA soldiers attempted to cross the LAC and take the Atari Post, said the citation of Naib Subedar Baldev Singh of the 19th Battalion of the J&K Rifles. “He led the charge against the invading force and injured around 15 Chinese soldiers,” the citation said, adding that the Naib Subedar was injured. He was awarded the Sena Medal (Gallantry).

Meanwhile, several covert operations were conducted at specific locations along the LAC.