The Indian Army is denying multiple media reports a large patrol from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) penetrated 45 kilometers into India at Anjaw district in Arunachal Pradesh and set-up a camp before being discovered and almost fired on by Indian Army troopers.

An unidentified Indian Army senior army officer categorically denied these media reports of Chinese troops crossing the Line of Actual Control (LAC). He did, however, admit there was a "face-off" with Chinese troops along the LAC.

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"There are mutually identified disputed areas on the LAC. Fish-tail was one such area where the incident occurred. Both the armies were conducting routine patrols when it happened," he said.

The "fish-tail" he referred to is one of two fish-tail shaped protrusions in the northeast corner of Arunachal Pradesh where Indian and Chinese troops have encountered each other many times in the past.  The officer said the face-off which was resolved through dialogue at the local commander level.

"There is no truth about media report of incursion as deep as 45 km and setting up of Chinese Army camps," he said.

Citing high-level intelligence sources, media reports on Sept. 26 said the alleged incursion occurred last Sept. 9 at a place called Hadigrah Pass, which is described as the limit of Indian territory along the LAC.

An Indian Army Long Range Patrol stumbled upon the Chinese troops and their temporary camp at Plum, which is 45 km inside India. Despite blundering into each other, both sides held their fire.

To defuse tensions caused by the intrusion, a flag meeting between the Indian Army and the PLA was held on Sept. 14 at Damai in China some three kilometers from the LAC. The Chinese troops then withdrew.

Other media reports, however, said the Chinese were driven out by a large force of Indian Army soldiers and Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

TagsIndian Army, People's Liberation Army, Anjaw district, Arunachal Pradesh, Line of Actual Control, fish-tail, Hadigrah Pass