Ladkah incursion: Chinese troops take away surveillance camera,Army says issue 8216;minor8217;

On June 17,a Chinese patrol entered Chumar sector and dismantled a camera set up by Indian Army.

The Army has termed as minor an incursion by Chinese troops in Ladakhs Chumar area last month in which a defunct surveillance camera set up by the Indian side was dismantled but returned days later at a flag meeting.

The incident occurred on June 17 when a Chinese patrol entered the disputed area in the Chumar sector and dismantled the camera that had been set up by the Indian Army in the past to keep a track of movements. However,when the issue was raised by the Indian side in a flag meeting,the camera was returned July 3,sources said.

The Army said the incident is not of major concern,unlike the setting up of temporary tents in the Depsang plains by Chinese troops in April. It is a minor incident. There are several hundred cases of transgressions on the border that is disputed between the two sides, a defence ministry official said.

While in the past several years,there have been regular transgressions from both sides to assert authority over the disputed border,things took an ugly turn in April after Chinese troops set up a temporary camp in the disputed land. The matter was resolved after the Indian side agreed to destroy certain fortifications leading to the withdrawal of Chinese troops.

However,there has now been a renewed emphasis from both sides to avoid such incidents and the matter was discussed during Defence Minister A K Antonys visit to Beijing last week. In fact,the two sides have agreed to increase the exchange of officers and soldiers of the armed forces to increase communication and dialogue.

Senior military commanders from service headquarters,command or military region and field formations will exchange visits regularly on a mutually agreed annual schedule, a joint statement released during the visit stated.

The two nations have also decided to increase meetings on the border to resolve issues that crop up during patrolling. A great frequency of border personnel meetings at additional locations has been decided.