India-China Face-Off: PM holds review meeting; 4 soldiers critical

Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in a “violent face-off” with Chinese troops at Galwan Valley in Ladakh. This is the most violent face-off between the neighboring countries in five decades. ANI has reported that 4 soldiers are at present in critical condition after the violent face-off.

Furious hand-to-hand fighting raged across the Galwan river valley for over eight hours on Monday night. People’s Liberation Army assault teams used iron rods as well as batons wrapped in barbed wire during the fight.

Soon after the violent clash, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and others met the Army Chief late last night.

As reported by Economic Times, The government has given powers to the armed forces to stock up its war reserves. the Navy has also been given the go-ahead to deploy its assets near the Malacca Strait. Air Force fighters are moved up to forward locations.

Sources told CNN-News18, Army, Navy, and Air Force are on the highest level of alert and there is a forward movement of assets. A complete free hand is given to local commanders. They’ve been told to give a befitting reply.

For more than six weeks, Indian and Chinese soldiers have been engaged in a stand-off along the Line of Actual Control. The armies have been facing each other at the Galwan River and at the Pangong Tso glacial lake.

The United States says it is closely monitoring the situation and hope that the differences will be resolved peacefully.

Also Read: Galwan Valley: 20 Indian Soldiers Killed; 43 Chinese Casualties