NEW DELHI: The Chinese army on Thursday evening returned ten Indian soldiers from its custody, including two officers, involved in Monday’s violent face-off in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh region.
According to Indian media, the soldiers were returned on the Line of Actual Control after hectic negotiations between the two sides, including three rounds of talks at the Major General level.
The released Indian soldiers released included a lieutenant-colonel and three majors. As per practice, these soldiers were medically examined and provided a preliminary debriefing.
This is the first time after the 1962 Sino-India War that Indian soldiers were taken into custody by the Chinese side.
The Indian Army issued a statement on Thursday evening confirming that no soldier was missing, but provided no details about the soldiers in Chinese custody.
READ MORE: 20 Indian soldiers killed in clashes with Chinese troops
Soldiers from both sides had clashed violently on Monday night near the disputed border during the disengagement process in the Galwan Valley area. Twenty Indian soldiers died in the clashes while another 76 were injured.
The troops reportedly clashed on ridges on steep terrain with some soldiers falling into the fast-flowing Galwan river in sub-zero temperatures.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said India had crossed the border twice, “provoking and attacking Chinese personnel, resulting in serious physical confrontation between border forces on the two sides.”
China on Wednesday claimed sovereignty over the Galwan Valley region which was rebutted by India as “exaggerated and untenable”.
READ MORE: India, China hold talks to diffuse deadly border tensions
