According to new information, Chinese troops attempted to attack and seize Indian Army positions at least twice in Eastern Ladakh between September 2021 and November 2022, during which time several Chinese soldiers were hurt in clashes that took place despite ongoing diplomatic and military talks.
The weekend’s investiture event by two Indian Army commands revealed the shocking findings, which included covert actions by Indian soldiers. The warriors were honoured that day for their valour in these battles, which was revealed by this event.
According to earlier reports from News Agency, there were other skirmishes that occurred prior to the Galwan conflict, including all-night fights that resulted in major injuries for both sides.
Deeper understanding of the tension between the two nuclear-armed nations, who have been at odds since May 2020, is provided by new details of the hitherto undisclosed encounters.
The YouTube video of the investiture event, in which the citations of troops who received gallantry medals for their deeds of courage throughout the Army’s operational zones, including Eastern Ladakh, were read out, was removed by the Western Command as word of the clashes spread.
The bravery of a major in the Army’s elite commando unit, the Para SF, was highlighted during the investiture ceremony by Central Command. Despite severe weather, the major bravely crossed over to the “enemy” side while assigned to a different sector and was able to provide 120 hours of live feed of military activity on the other side.
Although China was not mentioned, this region borders Tibet, which is occupied by China.
Regarding events in Eastern Ladakh, it is now known that on January 7, 2022, soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) attacked an Indian Army position at a place known as Shankar Tekri along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
A Sikh Light Infantry sepoy was cited as having engaged in a “brutal hand-to-hand battle” with invading Chinese troops, “with unmatched valour,” and successfully repelled the attack while inflicting four injuries on PLA soldiers and seizing their firearms.
A further altercation occurred on November 27, 2022, when roughly fifty PLA soldiers attempted to cross the LAC at Atari Post, according to the citations.
Similar to the sepoy, a naib subedar from the 19th Battalion of the J&K Rifles was granted the Sena Medal (Gallantry) in this instance for spearheading the assault on the invading PLA troops, resulting in around fifteen injuries. Despite suffering injuries in the attack, the naib subedar led the successful operation to stop the PLA.
The citations also disclosed Indian troops’ clandestine operations. An officer of the 15th Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment received the Sena Medal (Gallantry) for overseeing a clandestine mission “deep within” Chinese territory, albeit the exact number of days involved has not been disclosed. Another soldier from the same battalion received the Sena Medal (Gallantry) for the same operation, which is still regarded as such.
The citations also highlighted the valour of another officer assigned to the Intelligence Corps, who, as part of the Indian Army’s Snow Leopard operation in Eastern Ladakh, bravely entered “enemy territory” on September 16, 2022.
High-altitude sickness notwithstanding, he persisted and completed the mission assigned to him without the enemy noticing. In addition, he received the Sena Medal (Gallantry) for “displaying stealth and tactical skill, enhancing India’s strategic edge in the area,” according to the citation.
According to Army Chief General Manoj Pande, the situation along the LAC with China is “stable but sensitive” as of last week. He had made clear what India needed China to do on the military front to break the impasse.
