It's a natural phenomenon: Rijiju on Chinese incursions

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday denied any incursion by China’s People’s Liberation Army in Taksing area of Arunachal Pradesh in recent times.

“It is a natural phenomenon as troops from both the sides usually trespass into each other’s territory by mistake as there is no definite demarcation of the border.

“Even Chinese Army sometime claim incursion by Indian Army,” Rijiju said before his departure to New Delhi.

When his attention was drawn to the alleged incursion at Taksing area in Upper Subansiri district about three months ago, Rijiju said that troops from both the countries accidentally trespass into each other’s territories during routine patrolling.

“Patrolling teams from both the countries trespass into each other’s territories and sometime confrontations are reported... Incursion along the border takes place only where there is no permanent structure. Since there is no boundary demarcation, such type of ingress will continue.”

“Our troops are being instructed to be more vigilant and not to allow Chinese to cross our periphery,” he said.

Rijiju, however, conceded that Arunachal Pradesh had lost a portion of land to China earlier because of less patrolling but hastened to claim, “We have not conceded any inch of our territory to China after National Democratic Alliance came to power at the Centre.”

He said Indo-Tibetan Border Police had recently arrested three persons of Tibetan origin from Lemeking area of Upper Subansiri district. Their interrogation was on to unearth the truth but language barrier had become an impediment.

“I had a meeting with the DG and IG of ITBP this morning and directed them to get the identity and motive of the three persons,” he added.