India hands over Chinese soldier who crossed border

Indian authorities have handed back a Chinese soldier after he strayed across the contested border in the Himalayan region.

According to the international news agency, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldier was apprehended in the Demchok area of Ladakh,

The Army said in a statement that the soldier was given medical assistance and oxygen.

The Indian Army said the soldier was handed back according to “established protocols”.

The move comes after several rounds of military-level negotiations between China and India.

Forces of both countries have clashed many times over the border called the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

It should be remembered that China had released 5 Indian nationals in September after they roamed across the border. India had said that the youths, were hunters who had accidentally crossed the Chinese territory.

China, India commanders meet after border clash

Indian and Chinese military commanders met in September in an attempt to ease tensions at their disputed Himalayan border as the public mood hardened in India for military and economic retort following the clash.

According to media reports, major Indian traders called for a boycott of Chinese goods, and the state of Maharashtra, home to India’s financial capital of Mumbai, put three initial investment proposals from Chinese companies worth $658 million on hold, just days after signing the agreements.

Indian sources said that 20 of its soldiers were killed last Monday in a clash with Chinese troops.