India-China Border Clash Kills Several Troops In An Unarmed Fight

A fatal clash at the India-Chin a border in the Ladakh area has claimed the lives of 20 Indian and 43 Chinese soldiers, as per the initial reports released.

This is the first deadly clash between the Indian and Chinese troops in the last 45 years. The Indian army first confirmed the news of the clash and released the information that three troops, including a colonel, have been killed in the face-off. However, the numbers were revised as more information came from government sources.

It is the Indian government sources that also claimed that the casualties have been on both sides of the border with the clash leaving as many as 43 soldiers dead on the Chinese side. However, the numbers are yet to be confirmed officially by the Chinese authorities.

India's external affairs ministry claimed that the clash took place because China attempted to change the status quo even after an agreement last week to maintain the peace in the area and to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley.

The Indian Army confirmed the clash, which took place on Monday, June 17, and how it claimed the lives of 20 soldiers, including a colonel. The Chinese authorities, however, have not released the official numbers and as per netizens, the daily newspapers published under the government did not mention anything related to the clash.

Even though China has not yet confirmed the casualties on its sides, it did blame India and accused the Indian troops of crossing the border and entering into the Chinese side.

As per the pact between both the countries, the use of arms is not allowed at the border. The troops that got involved in face-off were unarmed but the injuries are reported to be due to the impact of stones and sticks.

Both the countries confirmed that there has been no use of arms during the skirmish. However, it is not yet clear how an unarmed fight led to so many casualties on both sides.