Chinese transgress into Indian territory in Sikkim

NEW DELHI: In yet another incident of Chinese transgressions into Indian territory, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) personnel entered up to a kilometre of Indian territory in Sikkim and returned to their territory after spending some time there.

The transgression took place recently in the Finger Area, which came to limelight in the wake of Chinese claims over the 2.1 sqkm of land in north Sikkim, sources said on Wednesday. The recent move of the PLA seems like an effort on the Chinese part to assert their claims over the area.

Seeking to downplay the incident, Indian Army sources said these transgressions were "a routine affair" in which the PLA personnel violate India's perception of the 4,057-km long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The PLA men reportedly entered the Finger Area on light motor vehicles and later returned to Chinese territory, sources said.

Though it was believed until recently that the Chinese have reconciled to the idea of Sikkim being a part of India, there have been at least 65 incidents of transgressions reported in the last six months by PLA personnel into the Finger Area of the State, sources said.

Also, there have been reports of over 150 transgressions by the PLA across the LAC last year. During the recent visit of India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Beijing, the Chinese reportedly stunned him by raising the issue of Finger Area.