Protest erupts in J and K over Chinese incursion

Supporters of the Jammu West Assembly Movement staged protests here against multiple incursions by Chinese troopsinto Indian territory.

Denouncing Beijing for the same, they demanded improved border security in the region.

According to reports, the protesters shouted slogans and waved placards criticizing the Chinese Government for its troops' repeated incursions into Indian territory.

Earlier, media reports had suggested that Chinese troops had crossed into Indian territories on July 16 and 17, and carried placards that asked Indian soldiers to leave the 'occupied territories'. They later returned to their former positions after an eye-to-eye confrontation with Indian soldiers.

This latest incursion comes within a month of Defence Minister A. K. Antony undertaking a visit to Beijing where the issue was taken up during bilateral talks.

In April this year, a Chinese platoon had set up a camp about 19 km into Indian territory in the Daulat Beg Oldi sector and had refused to budge for about three weeks. They finally agreed to withdraw troops after protacted negotiations.

The incident had highlighted the delicate nature of relations between the two Asian giants who have a history of an unresolved border dispute on one hand and a booming trade on the other.

Small incursions are common across the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de-facto border that runs approximately 4,000 kilometres across the Himalayas, but it is rare for either country to set up a camp so deep within the disputed territory.

The two countries have increased their military presence on each side of the border in recent years.

Meanwhile, Indian and Chinese officials will continue their third round of talks in New Delhi today to discuss ways to secure peace on the border.

The two-day meeting of working mechanism for consultation and coordination on India-China border affairs will focus on ensuring better coordination and communication between the two countries.

Previously, the two sides have held frequent meetings to diffuse tensions, but the high-level talks to resolve the border dispute have not yet produced results.