Itanagar/New Delhi: Chinese road-building teams entered around one kilometre inside Indian territory in Tuting area of Arunachal Pradesh last week but returned after being confronted by Indian troops, government sources said on Wednesday.
The sources said the civilian teams came for track alignment activities and returned when confronted by the Indian troops, leaving behind various road building equipment including excavators.
According to local villagers in Arunachal Pradesh, the Chinese team members included civilians as well as uniformed personnel.
The incident took place on December 28, nearly four months after the end of the 73-day long Doklam standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in the Sikkim sector.
The sources said on December 28, Indian border patrolling personnel observed few Chinese civilians undertaking track alignment activity one kilometre inside the Indian territory in Tuting area.
According to local villagers in Arunachal Pradesh, Chinese soldiers were involved in road construction work in the area and that Indian security personnel intercepted them near Bising village under Tuting subdivision.
The villagers said Indian soldiers confronted their Chinese counterparts and seized their road construction machines including two excavators.
Nyomin Tekseng of Zido village near the frontier and Pema Nyisir of Gelling village said that two excavators have been confiscated.
The villagers informed a local policeman, who in turn alerted the ITBP deployed in Medog, near Bishing.
ITBP personnel reached the spot and asked the Chinese personnel to return. There was reportedly an exchange of words but the Chinese refused to yield.
The Indian Army also sent a patrol to the site, where it continues to be stationed. (PTI)
