Leh, September 6
After helicopter incursions into Indian airspace, the Chinese Army has brazenly violated the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh region and painted boulders and rocks in the area red.

The Chinese troops entered nearly 1.5 km into the Indian territory near Mount Gya, recognised as International Border by India and China, and painted the boulders and rocks with red spray paint, official sources said.

The incursions were reported from the area, generally referred in the Chumar sector in east of Leh, and painted “China” in Cantonese with Red spray paint all over the boulders and rocks, they said. The 22,420 ft Mount Gya, also known as “fair princess of snow” by the Army is located at the tri-junction of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, Spiti in Himachal Pradesh, and Tibet. Its boundary was marked during the British era and regarded as International Border by the two countries.

The border patrol discovered red paint markings on various rocks and boulders along the Zulung La (pass) on July 31, the sources said.

Senior Army officials said the issue was being downplayed as three of its Generals were currently in Beijing and Lhasa under an exchange programme.

This incident was viewed with seriousness by the officials as the Chinese have made foray into these areas for the first time since Independence and sprayed the area with red markings as deep as 1.5-1.7 km of the Indian territory.

The border forces talked to the locals and were informed about the incursions by the People's Liberation Army of China in this area.

Before this, Chinese helicopters had violated Indian air space along the LAC in Chumar region in June and also Helli-dropped some expired food.

Reacting to this, the Army spokesperson had said: “There was a report of a helicopter flying in the area south of Chumar, where India and China have differences in perception on the LAC. It was reported by grazers.”

India and China have been engaged in talks over the Line of Actual Control and had exchanged maps in 2002. In the western sector (East Jammu and Kashmir), the Samar Lungpa area, between the Karakoram Pass and Chipchap river, is contentious, with Chinese maps showing the LAC to be south of the Samar Lungpa. — PTI