Army changes LAC combat rules after China clash: Key points in pictures

Sources said the government had asked the Army to adopt a different tactical approach in guarding the border – the LAC – with China

Use of firearms in face-offs

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After an incident of the violent face-off with China in Eastern Ladakh, the Indian Army has changed its rules of engagement on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) which would allow field commanders to order troops to use firearms under “extraordinary” circumstances.

Full freedom in dealing with situation

The sources said the armed forces have been given full freedom to deal with any act of aggression by China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de-facto border between the two countries. At the all-party meeting on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said the armed forces had been given a free hand to take all necessary steps.

Financial powers

In another development, sources said the defence ministry has extended the financial powers given to three vice service chiefs to purchase ammunition and weapons up to Rs 500 crore per acquisition.

‘Be fully prepared’

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday asked India’s top military brass to be “fully prepared” to take any unprecedented action at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China…Read More

Galwan Valley clash: 20 Indian soldiers killed in face-off with China

First deadly clash on the disputed border since four Assam Rifles jawans were ambushed and killed by Chinese border guards in October 1975.

In a steep escalation of the ongoing Sino-Indian border face-off in eastern Ladakh, soldiers of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) attacked and killed 20 Indian soldiers, including a colonel, on Monday night.This is the first deadly clash on the 3,488-kilometre disputed border since four Assam Rifles jawans were ambushed and killed by Chinese border guards in October 1975.

In a statement on Tuesday morning, the army said: “During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday (Monday) night with casualties on both sides. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation.”

ALSO READ: Face-off in Ladakh result of China’s attempt to change status quo: MEA

Late on Tuesday evening, another statement from the army said: “17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand-off location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total of those killed in action to 20.”

The statement also said: “Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at the Galwan area where they had earlier clashed on the night of 15/16 June 2020.” There were unconfirmed reports that five PLA soldiers were also killed in the clash. Senior officers recounted extreme Chinese brutality to the Indian prisoners, with some of them being pushed over cliffs and soldiers’ bodies being recovered from the Galwan River.

China's Great Wall Motor commits Rs 7,600 crore investment in India

The company has committed an investment of $1 billion (about Rs 7,600 crore) in India in a phased manner with an estimated employment for over 3,000 people

Chinese auto major Great Wall Motor (GWM) on Tuesday said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Maharashtra government for its manufacturing facility in the state which it had acquired from General Motors (GM). The company has committed an investment of $1 billion (about Rs 7,600 crore) in India in a phased manner with an estimated employment for over 3,000 people. “This would be a highly automated plant in Talegaon (near Pune) with advanced robotics technology integrated in many of the production processes,” Parker Shi, managing director of Indian subsidiary of GWM, said.

“Overall we are committed to $1 billion of investment in India in a phased manner, which is directed towards manufacturing world class intelligent and premium products, R&D centre, building supply chain and providing jobs to over 3,000 people in a phased manner,” he added. In January this year, GWM had signed an agreement to acquire the plant from GM. The factory has facilities like logistics distribution centre, training centre, project management building, administrative office building and public facilities centre. GMW will produce its EV and SUV models at the plant…Read More