Line of Actual Control

The Indian Army added that such "incidents" occur due to "differing perceptions of the LAC". Clearly, this is not the first time such an incident has taken place. Last year, the People's Liberation Army again had infiltrated 300-400 metres inside the Demchok sector of eastern Ladakh.

Demchok stretches from eastern Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh is one of the 23 "disputed and sensitive areas" identified on the Line of Actual Control(LAC). Indian and China share a border of 4,057 km along the Line of Actual Control.

In a similar move, Chinese troops in April had infiltrated 6km inside the Indian border in Lake Pangong in Ladakh, the same area as a few days ago, intelligence agencies had told the media. According to media reports, over 170 transgressions have been recorded by the Chinese Army in 2018. While in 2016, the number was 273 and in 2017 a total of 426 such incidents were reported.

In view of its strategic location, the Indian Army keeps an eagle eye over Ladakh.

In March, Northern army commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh had visited forward posts in Western Ladakh to review operational preparedness in the sector. The terrain and sub-zero weather present unique challenges for Indian troops.

The Indian Army deployed in the Ladakh area is always at an operational preparedness level with PLA troops ever eager to exploit any Indian weakness.

The temperature hits very low during the winter in Ladakh and it becomes difficult to carry out day-to-day activities in the region as the road which connects Kargil and Ladakh from Kashmir remains shut for months as high snow accumulates on the ground.

(Photograph:DNA)