GUWAHATI, Aug 26 � Crossing over of the Line of Control (LoC) by Chinese Army personnel and nationals of that country, particularly in the summer season, is very common and most of these �transgressions� do not come to light. But the security agencies including the Army, are keeping a tab on such transgressions and all such incidents are well documented.
Highly placed official sources in New Delhi told The Assam Tribune that though a major hue and cry was made on the issue of the recent crossing over of the LoC by a group of Chinese Army personnel in Arunachal Pradesh, it was not a serious issue and was settled on the ground itself and the Army personnel of the neighbouring country returned to their own territory on the same day.
Sources said that the McMahon Line, which is the boundary between India and China, is an imaginary line, and is not well defined. There is a difference of perception between India and China and very often, patrol parties of China as well as Chinese nationals cross over to Indian territory.
Sources revealed that India is keeping records of all transgressions from the neighbouring country from the reports of the Army and Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITDP) on the ground as well as from the reports received from the local population. Even when any sign of people crossing over to India like dropping of cigarette butts is reported, the same is recorded. Sources said that India is also using unmanned aerial surveillance vehicles along the Indo-China border to record any transgression.
According to records available with the Government of India, more than 200 incidents of transgressions from the Chinese side have been reported so far within this year only and more than 60 of those were in the border in Arunachal Pradesh. However, all the transgressions were not by the Chinese Army personnel and in some cases only mules of other animals came across to India. Interestingly, majority of such transgressions are not in public knowledge.
Sources admitted that such transgressions would continue to take place till the boundary is properly demarcated and India and China come to an agreement on the border disputes. But fortunately, most such issues are resolved along the border itself and whenever any such issue becomes serious, the matter is resolved diplomatically.