Drone lost contact, Chinese counterparts were informed: India

India on Thursday clarified that the drone which crashed in Chinese territory was on a regular training mission and had lost contact with the ground due to some technical issue.

"An Indian UAV on a regular training mission inside the Indian territory lost contact with the ground control due to some technical problem and crossed over the LAC in the Sikkim Sector," an ANI report said, quoting a statement from the defence ministery.

It also said that India had immediately alerted Chinese counterparts to locate the UAV.


"Indian border security personnel immediately alerted their Chinese counterparts to locate the UAV. In response, Chinese side reverted with location details. The exact cause of the incident is under investigation. The matter is being dealt with in accordance with established protocols," said the statement.

"The matter is being dealt with in accordance with the established protocols through institutional mechanisms to deal with situations along the India- China border areas," it said.

China had earlier expressed displeasure over the issue.

"India's move has infringed upon China's territorial sovereignty, and we are strongly dissatisfied with and opposed to this," Zhang Shuili, deputy head of the combat bureau of the Western Theatre Command's joint staff department, said.