Army chief admits to Chinese incursion in J&K

“Let me inform you that one incursion of a Chinese helicopter along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Leh took place some time back,” he told reporters after taking over as the new chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee here. But giving the benefit of the doubt to the Chinese, he said the incursion could be the result of a “navigational error.” He said reports of more than one incursion by Chinese helicopters were incorrect.

The Chinese helicopter entered the Indian airspace on June 21, this year, and is reported to have air-dropped canned food at Chumar, northeast of Leh in Jammu and Kashmir.

Kapoor, however, said there was “no special concern” over the Chinese incursion along the LAC as it is due to differing perceptions about the border line. He said there was no increase in such incidents as indicated in media reports. The army chief also denied reports of Indian and Chinese Army personnel exchanging fire along the LAC in Sikkim.