Inside story of Galvan skirmish

Inside story of Galvan skirmish

 There was a dispute over the Chinese post

 Indian soldiers showed their strength

 Much has been written about the violent conflict between Indo-Chinese soldiers in the Galvan Valley of Ladakh on 15 June.  There is a story of conspiracies about it, a sign of betrayal and claims are being made.  In the absence of facts, many questions remain without answer.  In such a situation, India Today has talked to the army officers stationed in Galvan Valley, Leh and Thangastay, and threaded the whole incident.

 There was talk of a lieutenant general level between the two countries 10 days before the violent clash in Galvan and the forces of both the countries started retreating at Petrol Point 14 (PP14), as the army of the two countries came very close to the LAC  was.

 A Chinese surveillance post on the banks of the Galvan River was in India's border, this was confirmed during the talks with China.  An agreement was also reached with the Chinese military to remove it.  A few days after the talks, China removed the post.  On the same day, Colonel B Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of the 16th Bihar Battalion, also talked to his counterpart Chinese officer about this.

But midnight of June 14, China again put up its post at the same place.  It was 5 pm on 15 June.  The sun was visible in the sky.  Colonel Santosh Babu decided that he would go to that camp himself with a team and take full information about how this post was once again made.

 Colonel B Santosh Babu was surprised that he had talked to the Chinese military officers about this post a few days back, then how it became again, whether there was a mistake during the conversations

During this time, there was an atmosphere of heat in the 16 Bihar Regiment.  The young soldiers of the unit were angry and they themselves wanted to overthrow the disputed post in China.  But Colonel Babu's view was different.  Colonel Babu was considered to be a very gentle, calm-minded officer in his unit.  He had already served in this area as a company commander.  Colonel Babu decided that he would go to that post of China himself.

Till now, there was friendly behavior of Chinese soldiers

 In general, a company commander (Major rank officer) is sent on such an occasion.  But Colonel Babu decided that he would not hand over such a delicate issue to the young officers of the unit.  It is important to know here that the heat of the Indian camp was not hot yet.  The young officers and soldiers of the unit only hoped that they would have to do a work in the narrow valley of the river, where there was no dispute till now.  There was also a friendly attitude between the armies of the two countries.

 Colonel Babu set out with 35 soldiers

 On June 15, at 7 pm, Colonel Babu, along with a team of 35 men of officers and jawans, walked towards the post which was rebuilt by the Chinese.  Two majors were also involved in this.  The atmosphere of the team was not as tense, but it was as if they were going to make some inquiries.

When this Indian team reached the Chinese camp, the first thing that Indian soldiers felt was that the gesture of the Chinese soldiers was different.  The Chinese jawans present there were not those whose duty was normally done at that place.

 Due to the deployment at one place, the soldiers of 16 Bihar Regiment had treated the soldiers of the Chinese unit well.  He hoped that the same Chinese soldiers and officers would be found there.  But the new faces of the Chinese soldiers present here were the first surprise for the Indian soldiers.

The Indian Army came to know that some new soldiers from the People's Liberation Army were brought here in the second fortnight of May.  The 16th Regiment was also informed that some 'new' soldiers of the PLA had come here, but it was clear that the movement of these soldiers was far beyond the Chinese border across the LAC.

Chinese soldier pushed Colonel Babu

When the Indian team reached that disputed post, these new soldiers of China were seen in a different style.  When Colonel Babu started the conversation and asked why he had made that post again, a Chinese army man came in front and pushed Colonel Babu behind.  According to the report, this indecent Chinese soldier also used derogatory words in Chinese language.

Indian soldiers pounce for revenge

Explain that it is the same to see the disrespect of your commanding officer in an army unit, as if someone has been insulted or beaten up with your parents.  After this incident, the response from India came immediately and swiftly. The Indian team cracked down on the Chinese.  This fight was about punches and punches.  During this time no weapon of any kind was used.  In this fight which lasted for 30 minutes, people were hurt from both sides, but the Indian team proved to be twenty during this time.  The brave soldiers of the 16 Bihar Regiment broke that post and erased every Chinese symbol from there.  The restraint limit was already over after pushing India's commanding officer.

Colonel Babu sensed the danger

Soon after this incident, Colonel Babu realized that the mood of the Chinese is second.  With the presence of new Chinese soldiers here and the guile made by a person, they understood that something big is going to happen.  He sent the wounded soldiers of India back to the post and asked them to send more soldiers from the post.  Till now, the anger of the Chinese had increased in the Indian camp, but according to the information, Colonel Babu was still restrained and he pacified his soldiers.Colonel Babu and his team captured the new Chinese jawans who were caught in the melee, and they crossed the LAC towards the Chinese border.  The Indian team not only wanted to hand over these Chinese soldiers to their senior officers, but also wanted to know if more Chinese soldiers were coming.It was not a clash like normal days

The events of the last few hours of that evening of June 15 were indicating that this is not a small confrontation like ordinary days.  It is also possible that Indian soldiers have also assessed some movement towards China.  This clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers was just a glimpse.  An hour later the real fight was to take place.  In this second battle, the soldiers had to pay the price of their lives.

 Speaking to India Today, an army officer stationed at the Milanbindu of the Shayok-Galwan river, some distance away from the spot, said, "Our soldiers were angry and aggressive. You can think how much they wanted to teach the Chinese a lesson."

By now the Galvan valley had sunk in darkness.  Visibility was reduced.  What Colonel Babu feared was true.  The new Chinese soldiers were waiting with positions on both sides of the river.  Apart from this, he was ready with a position on a ridge on the right side too.  As soon as Indian soldiers reached there, big stones started pouring on them.

When Colonel Babu suffered a head injury

Around 9 o'clock in the night, a big stone hit the head of Colonel Babu and he fell into the Galvan river.  Estimates are that they may not have been intentionally targeted, but they were also hit in the face of confrontation.

Scramble in the dark of night

This confrontation between India and Chinese troops lasted for 45 minutes.  During this terrible war that took place in the dark of night, many soldiers received heroism.  An important aspect of this fight is that this battle was taking place in many pockets across the LAC.  This fight was happening in many groups.  In which about 300 people were fighting each other.  While fighting stopped many soldiers of soldiers from both India and China had fallen in the Galvan river.  The Commanding Officer of India was also involved in this.

Face to face in this battle, the Chinese used nail and rod attached to the nail.  After this, the two soldiers separated.  Things remained quiet till 11 pm.  During this time, the armies of both the countries picked up their wounded soldiers who fell in the river and sent them for treatment.

Emotions were booming in Indian camp

During this, Colonel Babu and other injured soldiers were taken towards the Indian camp.  While the rest of the country's soldiers remained present in the Chinese border to take stock of the situation.  By now it has become clear that the doubt of the Commanding Officer of India was right.  The soldiers of India were furious after seeing their commanding officer being martyred in front of their eyes.  The feelings of the soldiers of revenge were booming.

When the Indian jawans were evacuating their wounded soldiers from the river and elsewhere, then in the darkness of night, they heard the call of a drone.  This was a sign of a new danger.  This was a sign of the third skirmish between the Indian and Chinese troops at midnight in the Galvan valley.  The drone was slowly coming towards the valley.  Perhaps he was using infrared cameras and night vision, so that China could assess its damage and attack again.

Deadly platoon arrived to help Meanwhile, the Indian Army present on the spot requested for further help.  A large number of Indian soldiers reached there.  It also included the deadly platoon of 16 Bihar Regiment and 3 Punjab Regiment.  The deadly platoon consisted of soldiers who lead the attack.  Until the soldiers came from India, the army of India went inside the Chinese border.  The soldiers of India wanted to ensure that more Chinese soldiers do not get close to the LAC and they are already stopped.

The third battle after 11 o'clock

The third confrontation between China and Indian troops began shortly after 11 pm and continued sporadically till midnight.  This battle was fought completely in the Chinese border.  During this face-to-face melee.  Indian soldiers were falling on the Chinese, but due to the narrow valley and climbing, many soldiers fell into the river.  Many soldiers were hit by stones while falling.

After 5 hours of this battle which started at seven o'clock, the situation was now normalizing.  Health workers from both India and China reached there.  The deceased soldiers were being raised, the wounded soldiers were treated.  In the dark, there was an exchange of wounded and dead soldiers.  Meanwhile, 10 Indian military personnel were caught by China.  It consisted of 2 majors, 2 captains and 6 jawans. Body of 16 Chinese soldiers handed over

 I has received information that for the first time after the battle, the overall assessment found that the bodies of 16 of its soldiers were handed over to China after the third battle.  It also included 5 Chinese officers.  However, there is no mention in this report of debriefing whether these five bodies had the body of the commanding officer of China.  In this way 16 Chinese soldiers died in the war zone itself.  It is being assessed that in the second day of the fight, as many as 17 wounded soldiers of India lost their lives, similarly many injured soldiers of China have died later.  However, there is no confirmation from China about this nor is there any possibility.

There was no situation like 'Prisoner Exchange'

According to information received by India Today, after the third battle there was no situation like 'Prisoner's Exchange'.  In the dark of the night, the restless after the war, the temperature below zero, many soldiers remained here and there in all these situations.  On the morning of 16 June, Indian soldiers crossed the LAC and returned to their posts.  When it was found that many soldiers still had not returned, the Major General on both sides spoke and agreed to return the 'missing' soldiers on both sides.  An Indian Army official said that there was no hostage-taking situation after the war.  We were giving medical help to their soldiers, they were treating our soldiers..

   Writer and blogger-Akash Raychand Shinde.