SOURCE: INDIA TODAY
The Indian Army has occupied six new heights on the China border in the past 20 days, beating the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) which wanted to occupy them to dominate the Indian positions. Top government sources have told India Today TV that six new major hill features have been captured by the Indian troops on the Finger 4 ridgeline.
“Six new major hill features have been captured by our troops, including the Magar Hill, Gurung Hill, Rezang La, Rachana La, Mokhpari and the biggest peak on the Finger 4 ridgeline,” top government sources told India Today TV.
The heights, that are spread from the southern to the northern bank of Pangong Tso lake, have given India an edge over the Chinese in the ongoing conflict in specific areas, sources said.
They also said that the tussle between the two armies to occupy the dormant heights along the LAC began after August 29 when the Chinese tried to sit on heights south of Thakung area near the southern bank of Pangong Tso.
The foiling of the Chinese Army’s attempts to occupy the heights led to firing in air from the northern bank of Pangong Tso to the southern bank of the lake, at least on three occasions.
The sources clarified that the Black Top and the Helmet Top hill features are on the Chinese side of the LAC, while the heights occupied by the Indian side are in Indian territory. Now, the Chinese Army has deployed around 3,000 additional troops of its combined arms brigade, including its infantry and armoured troops, near the Rezang La and Rechen La heights.
The People’s Liberation Army has fully activated the Moldo garrison of the Chinese Army, with additional troops, in the past few weeks. After the Chinese aggression, the Indian security forces have been working in close coordination, and operations are being conducted under close monitoring of the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and Army Chief General Manoj Mukund.
