A fresh incident of tiff between Chinese soldiers and Ladakhi shepherds has come to light after a video went viral on social media on Wednesday. According to the Indian Express, the incident has been confirmed by Chushul councilor Konchok Stanzin. He said that the tiff took place on January 2. The local shepherds and the PLA soldiers patrolling the area were seen arguing in eastern Ladakh’s Nyoma. This is the area, which is 40 km from Chumthang and 87 km south of Chushul.
The councilor also added that the new incident near LAC was ‘resolved’. The footage shows Ladakhi shepherds standing up to the Chinese soldiers, who were accompanied by a vehicle. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) personnel can be seen instructing the shepherds to vacate the area, with no Indian soldiers visible in the video.
“Shot in January 2024, the video shows People’s Liberation Army troops accompanied by an armoured vehicle harassing and blocking shepherds’ access to grazing areas near Patrolling Points 35 and 36 in the Chushul sector that lie well within India’s claim line. Indian authorities have reportedly asked the shepherds not to return to the area,” Congress communication head Jairam Ramesh said in a statement on Wednesday.
He mentioned that for a span of four years, the Modi government has attempted to camouflage what he deemed as “the most significant territorial setback in six decades for India” through its strategy of “deny, distract, lie, and justify.” Ramesh highlighted previous reports indicating that Indian troops have lost control over 26 out of the 65 patrolling points. Additionally, he claimed that the Modi government has acquiesced to the establishment of buffer zones, resulting in further territorial concessions by India.