The Indian Army has enhanced its troop strength along the entire eastern sector of the Sino-Indian border, responding to the eight-week-long standoff between Chinese and Indian troops at the Doklam plateau in Bhutan.
The number of troopers on the ground was increased in the forward areas looked after by 33 Corps (Siliguri), 3 Corps (Rangapahar) and 4 Corps (Tezpur) in Sikkim, northern region of West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh, government sources said.
However, neither any border village in Sikkim was emptied nor was there any movement of artillery guns, army officials said.
The troop enhancement happened in most of the deployment positions under these corps, which moved 10-15% of their troops closer to the disputed Sino-Indian border, as the rhetoric from China was getting shriller day by day, sources said.
Neither the defence ministry nor the army has responded to the media report of a flag meeting at Nathu La — 30 km north of the standoff site at Dokalam — between Indian and Chinese officials.
None of the forward posts along the Line of Actual Control, sources said, were vacated in the winters even though the temperature dips below zero degree Celsius in such heights varying between 11,000 and 14,000 ft.
With both sides pitching tents to stay in the Himalayan heights, it appears that the two armies are ready for a long haul.
Published 11 August 2017, 15:37 IST