Galwan: China frees 10 Indian soldiers; demands for revenge grow
China had taken 45 Indian soldiers captive after clash, released 35 soon
China had taken 45 Indian soldiers captive after clash, released 35 soon
China had taken 45 Indian soldiers captive after clash, released 35 soon
China had taken 45 Indian soldiers captive after clash, released 35 soon
Ten Indian Army personnel, who were taken captive by China after the clash in Galwan, were released on Thursday evening following three days of negotiations, PTI reported. The freed personnel include two officers of rank of major.
The clash at Galwan left at least 20 Indian Army personnel dead and 76 injured.
The news of the release of the 10 Indian Army personnel came hours after the Indian Army announced that none of its personnel were missing.
The government had never confirmed that the personnel were missing, though multiple reports following the clash claimed that Indian Army personnel, including at least one major, were taken into captivity by Chinese forces.
Bloomberg reported the men were released following talks between senior military commanders at Galwan. Officers at the rank of major-general of the Indian and Chinese armies had been holding talks in recent days to defuse tension over the troop build-up and clash at Galwan.
The Indian Express reported that the freed soldiers were "medically examined and provided a preliminary debriefing".
The last time the Chinese military had taken Indian soldiers captive was in July 1962 after a clash in Galwan valley.
The clash in Galwan valley is the biggest confrontation between the two armies after their 1967 clashes in Nathu La, when India lost around 80 soldiers while the death toll on the Chinese side was over 300.
The two armies were engaged in a standoff in Galwan and several other areas of eastern Ladakh since May 5 when the two sides clashed on the banks of the Pangong Tso.
The trigger for the faceoff was China's stiff opposition to India laying a key road in the Finger area around the Pangong Tso Lake besides construction of another road connecting the Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road in Galwan valley.
The road in the Finger area in Pangong Tso is considered crucial for India to carry out patrols. India has already decided not to stall any border infrastructure projects in eastern Ladakh despite Chinese protests.