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Two Chinese choppers ‘violate’ Indian airspace
Sumit Hakhoo

Jammu, July 14
In an incident that could further increase tension on the high Himalayan border between India and China in the northern sector, two Chinese army helicopters have violated Indian airspace in the Chumar sector in Ladakh division of Jammu and Kashmir.

The incident is said to have happened on July 11, days after the Red Army soldiers took away a surveillance camera from a strategic bunker in the Chumar sector, 300 km from Leh.

Though the Army is silent about the incident, highly placed sources claimed that both the helicopters surveyed the area for a few minutes before returning to their territory.

This is another major violation on the border after the deep incursion by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in April when they entered Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) and pitched their tents.

"The Army is monitoring the situation and the report has been sent to the Defence Ministry. The issue is being investigated to ascertain the purpose of the incursion as it is a major provocation," said an Army officer.

The incident is likely to raise fresh tensions between the two Asian giants despite the fact that Defence Minister AK Antony had recently visited the Communist country and discussed ways to maintain peace on the border and resolve complex border issues which have remained major issues of discord between the two countries for the past six decades.

Ladakh again

• The PLA copters violated Indian airspace in the Chumar sector on July 11 and returned after flying for some time there
• Army sources played down the incident, claiming the two PLA copters had not entered inside Indian territory
• Chumar has seen a number of incursions in the recent past including an incident on June 17 where Chinese troops took away an Army surveillance camera