Chumar Intrusion: Chopper pilot who supplied troops to avoid retreat to receive honour

NEW DELHI: India treated the Chinese incursion that coincided with president XI Jinping’s visit to the country in September last year as `very volatile’ and feared that there could be an escalation in the border standoff with Chinese troops, the first official account of the incident has revealed.

The intrusion in Chumar was one of the tensest in recent years with over 1,500 troops involved in a face off for several days.

Though the border situation was downplayed, as it occurred during Jinping’s first visit to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and an in-depth account was not shared, several details have now emerged on the miniconflict in the citation for a gallantry award announced for an air force pilot who braved the odds to ensure that Indian troops in the stand-off were well supplied.

The Vayu Sena medal citation of Flight Lieutanant G Jagan Mohan has also revealed that the intrusion took place at a point that was vital to control the entire Chumar valley. “The situation in the area at Point 4991 was very volatile and an escalation was not ruled out. Point 4991 is of great tactical importance, to the extent that possession actually controls the 480 sqkm area of Chumar valley,” the citation reads.

Appreciating the pilot’s courage in flying repeated missions on his Cheetal chopper to supply troops at the forward position, it goes on to say that tensions went on for four days before aerial support was brought in as the military feared a retreat due to a lack of supplies.