Report says, 4 Soldiers Critical and 20 Soldiers Killed

Four Indian soldiers are in critical condition after the violent face-off with Chinese troops at eastern Ladakh on Monday morning. The Army confirmed yesterday that 20 soldiers were killed in the fight at Galwan Valley in Ladakh. Army sources have informed that up to 45 Chinese soldiers have been killed or injured in the incident.

An army statement on Tuesday morning confirmed the death of a Colonel and two jawans and spoke of casualties on both sides. In another statement last evening, the army added that 17 more critically injured were exposed to sub-zero temperatures and succumbed to their injuries.

The army statement opened by saying Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at the Galwan area where they earlier clashed on the night of June 15/16. According to the reports, Agence France Presse quoted an Indian army source as saying the incident involved no shooting but violent hand to hand scuffles. The soldiers threw punches and stones at each other and the Chinese troops allegedly used rods and nail studded clubs during the fight that lasted for hours until midnight on Monday.

China's defence ministry confirmed the incident had resulted in casualties but did not give details. India blamed the clashes on an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo there rebutting China's claims that Indian soldiers crossed the border.

A Chinese foreign ministry Spokesperson, Zhao Lijian said there had been a serious violation of a consensus reached by the two countries. Indian soldiers twice crossed the border line and provoked and attacked the Chinese forces causing a violent physical confrontation between the two border forces.

Military experts say one reason for the face off is that India has been building roads and airfields to improve connectivity and narrow the gap with China's infrastructure. At Galwan India completed a road leading to an airfield last October. To China's objections, India said, it was operating on its side of the Line of Actual Control. India and China fought a brief but bloody border war in 1962 and there have been skirmishes after that but no loss of life since 1975.