MEA terms reports of Chinese incursion as 'baseless'

Reacting to media reports about Chinese troops intrusion in the Demchok area of Leh district in the state, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said, "We have time and again said that there are differences in perception of the Line of Actual Control in this segment... As far as this particular incident, we are not aware of specific transgression..."
She also said the ministry will get in touch with the state government on this.

"I have only seen press reports emanating from Jammu and Kashmir government on this and we will of course get in touch with the J&K government," she said on the sidelines of a function to mark World Hindi Day here.

Quoting Leh Deputy Commissioner T Angchuk, a media report had said, "The Chinese troops objected to the construction work last October. The matter was brought before both the ITBP and Army, manning the border, but they directed us to stop construction work."

According to an official report, details of which were accessed by PTI, the Chinese troops, which included motor- cycle borne personnel of People's Liberation Army (PLA), entered Gombir area in Demchok region in Jammu and Kashmir and threatened the civilian workers who were building the shed, the plan for which was cleared by the state rural development department.

In a statement, the MEA said, "Government have seen media reports alleging Chinese troop intrusion in the Demchok area of Leh District in Jammu and Kashmir. These reports are baseless and do not conform to fact.

"They are, therefore, not a cause for concern. It will be recollected that there are differences in perception, between India and China, on the Line of Actual Control in this area."

Asking media to exercise restraint in highlighting such issues on which there were differences in perception between the two countries, Rao said "the LoAC has remained peaceful for many years now. It is our intension that it should remain peaceful in time to come also."