NEW DELHI: Twenty Indian soldiers, including a Colonel, were killed and several others grievously injured in a violent physical skirmish with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley region of eastern Ladakh on Monday, in a massive escalation of the continuing military confrontation in the high-altitude region since early-May even though no bullets were fired.
The Indian casualties could go up further because several soldiers have been injured in the clashes that lasted several hours till midnight, while a few are still reported to be missing. Some Indian soldiers were apparently also taken captive by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), who were present in far greater numbers and armed with nail-studded iron rods and stones during the prolonged brawl, but were later released after high-level military talks.
“Our radio and other intercepts indicate there were 43 casualties in the PLA ranks, which include both the dead and seriously injured. The situation is fluid on the ground, but no firing has taken place yet,” said a source. An Indian army statement said Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged in the Galwan areas where they clashed on the night of June 15-16.
The Indian casualties — the first since four Assam Rifles jawans were killed in an ambush by Chinese soldiers at Tulung La in Arunachal Pradesh in October 197