JOIN USWang made these comments, reminiscent of the ‘Hindi-Chini bhai bhai’ days, when he called on Maharashtra Governor S C Jamir at Raj Bhavan, on a day when India officially denied a media report about two ITBP jawans getting injured in firing by Chinese troops in Sikkim recently.
Authoritative ITBP sources on Tuesday completely denied any firing by the Chinese troops that reportedly “injured two ITBP soldiers” on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in northern Sikkim.
Top ITBP sources told Deccan Herald that the report in the media was “ a figment of imagination” that has little connection with the prevailing ground realities on the Sino-India border.
Both sides are bound by the treaty of 1996 and “not a single bullet” was fired. Unlike on the Indo-Pak border, any firing incident on the border with China from either side “is a serious issue”, he said. In the landmark 1996 Sino-India agreement both sides had pledged not to open fire, no matter what the provocation, as a part of confidence-building measures.
Notwithstanding the Chinese envoy's words, Chinese activities are sending different signals. The media report claimed that two ITBP jawans were injured in firing, which occured a fortnight ago in an area identified as Kerang in northern Sikkim.
The report quoted a top intelligence source as saying that it was kept secret due to the sensitivity of the incident.
The sources said even “the so called incursions” were matters of perceptions and reports had been exaggerated, he claimed. “No firing has taken place”, he said when asked about the reported injuries to ITBP soldiers.
Sources also refuted the reported “review” of the situation along the border by the top brass of the Indian army.
According to a Raj Bhavan spokesman, Wang told Jamir that both India and China were “emerging global superpowers.” “Therefore, peace and development in the region would benefit them both as well as the whole world,” he observed.
House panel to look into incursions
Against the backdrop of reports about Chinese incursions, a Parliamentary Standing Committee has decided to take up the issue for a detailed examination, reports PTI from New Delhi. It will examine India’s relationship with China in view of the recent border violations, a Lok Sabha bulletin said.