As efforts are on to defuse the stand-offs on the Line of Actual Control(LAC)in Ladakh, videos have surfaced on the social media purportedly showing some Indian soldiers trussed up in one instance and soldiers from India and China exchanging blows in another incident. While these clips are not dated, the Indian Army has said the videos are not authenticated and attempt to link them with the current situation is malafide.

The strong rejection came after a video was doing the rounds on Sunday showing some soldiers with their feet tied and faces bruised lying on ground with some Chinese soldiers looking on.  Unconfirmed reports said this incident took place in early May when an Indian patrol was accosted by the Chinese and detained for some time near Pangong Tso(lake), Ladakh.  However, the army had at that time too denied such an incident had taken place.

Incidentally, out of the four face-offs now on in various parts of the LAC in eastern Ladakh, Pangong Tso is one of them. Soldiers from both the sides engaged in fisticuffs on May 5-6 at this site leading to the stand-off. Three-fourths of the lake at a height of 17,000 feet is with the Chinese and they patrol it with high-powered boats.

Since the eye ball to eye ball confrontation, the Chinese have increased patrolling by bringing in more boats besides troops on the banks of the lake.  India has also bolstered its troop strength at the lake besides the other three stand-off sites after the Chinese brought in more soldiers and heavy vehicles.

Despite the talks at military and diplomatic levels, the situation has not eased off with more than 5,000 Chinese now at the four spots.

Meanwhile, the second video shows the Indian and Chinese troops jostling with each other and this clip is also not dated. Soldiers are also seen armed with batons. Responding strongly, the Indian army said here on Sunday “it has been brought to our notice that a video is doing rounds on social media on an incident on borders. Contents of video being circulated aren't authenticated. Attempt to link it with situation on Northern borders is malafide. Currently, no violence is happening.”

It also said differences are being addressed through interaction between military commanders, guided by established protocols on management of borders between the two countries. “We strongly condemn attempts to sensationalise issues impacting national security,” it added.

On the current situation on the LAC, sources said another round of talks at the Major General level between the two armies is likely shortly besides ongoing diplomatic parleys at various levels.  At least seven rounds of military level talks have already taken place between officers of the rank of Brigadier in the last fortnight.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday had said the two countries are engaged at the military and diplomatic levels to resolve the tense situation in Ladakh.  He also admitted that “the Chinese soldiers had come in a little further than they used to earlier” at the LAC to “make the situation different this time.”