20 Indian soldiers killed; 43 Chinese casualties in Ladakh

NEW DELHI — Twenty Indian soldiers including a Colonel were killed in a “violent face-off” on Monday night with Chinese troops at Ladakh’s Galwan valley, the Army has said in a statement.

The Chinese side has suffered 43 casualties, news agency ANI said citing sources, in the most serious escalation at the border in five decades, at a time soldiers of both sides were in the process of disengagement.

Earlier, Army had reported that an Indian Colonel and two soldiers were killed on Monday night in a massive escalation at a time there were efforts to defuse weeks of tension at the border.

India retaliated and there were casualties on both sides, said the army. Army sources say the soldiers were not shot but were killed in a physical fight on Indian territory that involved stones and batons.

Army Statement On Ladakh Face-Off:

The Army has said that the 17 Indian soldiers, who were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand off location, have died of their injuries.

“Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at the Galwan area where they had earlier clashed on the night of 15/16 June 2020. 17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand off location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20,” the Army said in a statement.

“Indian Army is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation,” the Army statement added.