Himachal steps up vigil along China border
By IANSTuesday, January 11, 2011
SHIMLA - Even as the government termed as “baseless” reports of Chinese troop incursion in Leh, a Himachal Pradesh official Tuesday said vigil along the China border has been stepped up.
“We have beefed up security to check any movement of unauthorized people along the Chinese border,” Lahaul and Spiti Superintendent of Police S.R. Rana told IANS over phone.
He said the police personnel deployed at the last checkpost at Sumdoh in Spiti subdivision have been told to keep tabs on the movement of the people in the area.
Sumdoh is located on the border of Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts and is manned by the state police. Beyond Sumdoh, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel are deployed.
On Monday, the ministry of external affairs while denying the reports of Chinese incursion said there were “differences in perception” on the Line of Actual Control between India and China.
“These reports are baseless and do not conform to facts. They are, therefore, not a cause for concern,” said a statement issued by the ministry of external affairs.
The foreign office was reacting to media reports that Chinese troops had entered into Demchok area in Leh district of Jammu and Kashmir in late December 2010.
“It will be recollected that there are differences in perception, between India and China, on the Line of Actual Control in this area,” the ministry said.
Indian Army chief General V.K. Singh had also played down the incursion reports.
Rana added: “Though most of the higher reaches along the border are out of bounds due to heavy snow, our main focus is on those villages that lie along the border.”
Likewise, the police have stepped up security in villages located along the border in Kinnaur district.
Sources said the Indo-Tibetan Border Police have also strengthened their checkposts at Chitkul, the last Indian village on the border, and Namgya near Khab in Pooh subdivision.
Himachal Pradesh shares a porous border with China and smuggling of rare species of fauna and Chinese goods like blankets and thermos flasks across the border is quite frequent.
