LEH: Two Chinese army helicopters violated Indian airspace on July 11 in the Chumar sector in Ladakh, days after their soldiers intruded and took away an Indian surveillance camera.

The PLA choppers violated Indian airspace in the Chumar sector on July 11 around 0800 hours and returned after flying for some time there, sources said.

However, Army sources played down the incident, claiming the two People's Liberation Army (PLA) choppers were only flying close to the Indian airspace and had not entered inside our territory.

The two Chinese choppers were probably carrying out a reconnaissance of the area, sources said. The incident happened soon after defence minister AK Antony's visit to China when the two sides discussed measures to enhance peace and tranquillity along the line of actual control.

Chumar has seen a number of incursion incidents in the recent past including an incident on June 17 where Chinese troops took away an Army surveillance camera meant for keeping an eye on the PLA troops patrolling there.

Chumar, 300km from here, is the same area where Chinese troops triggered tensions in April smashing some bunkers besides cutting wires of cameras installed at the border post.

Chumar has always been an area of discomfort for the Chinese troops as this is the only area along the China-India border where they do not have any direct access to the LAC.

India and China have been working towards signing a border pact to maintain peace and tranquility along the LAC where a number of incursion incidents have been observed in the recent few months.

More than a couple of years ago, Chinese troops had entered the Indian territory using their Mi-17 medium lift choppers and dropped food and other supplies in Ladakh.

