On June 15 last year, Ladakh’s Galwan Valley witnessed one of the worst violent clashes in 45 years between India and China.
June 15 marks one year since the deadly clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan Valley, leading to the death of 20 Indian soldiers, including Commanding Officer Colonel Santosh Babu, and an unspecified number of Chinese troops.
It was one of the most violent clashes between India and China in the last 45 years.
After what happened in Galvan Valley, the whole country wants to know what happened that night:
Much has been written about the violent conflict between the soldiers of India and China in the Galvan Valley of Ladakh on June 15. There is a story of conspiracies, hints of betrayal and claims and counterclaims are being made about it. In the absence of facts, many questions remain without answers. In such a situation, India Today has threaded the whole incident in one end by talking to the army officers posted in Galwan Valley, Leh and Thangaste.
10 days before the violent clash in Galwan, there was talk of lieutenant general level between the two countries and the armies of both the countries started retreating at Petrol Point 14 (PP14), as the army of both the countries came very close to the LAC. Was.
A Chinese surveillance post built on the banks of the Galvan river was in India's border, it was confirmed during talks with China. An agreement was also reached with the Chinese army to remove it. A few days after the conversation, China removed this post. On the same day, Colonel B Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of 16 Bihar Battalion, also spoke to his Chinese counterpart about this.
But on the midnight of June 14, China again erected its post at the same place. It was 5 pm on 15th June. The sun was visible in the sky. Colonel Santosh Babu decided that he himself would go to that camp with a team and get information about how this post was once again made.
Colonel B Santosh Babu was surprised that he had talked to Chinese military officers about this post a few days ago, then how did it become again, was there any mistake during the conversation.
During this, there was a hot atmosphere in the 16 Bihar Regiment. The young soldiers of the unit were angry and they themselves wanted to overthrow that disputed post of China. But Colonel Babu had another idea. Colonel Babu was considered 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 himself would go to that post in China.
Till now the friendly behavior of the Chinese soldiers was
Normally a Company Commander (Major rank officer) is sent to such an occasion. But Colonel Babu decided that he would not hand over such a delicate matter to the young officers of the unit. It is important to know here that till now there was no heat in the mood of the Indian camp. The only hope of the young officers and soldiers of the unit was that they had to do a work in the narrow valley of the river, where there had not been any dispute till now. It was here that there was a friendly attitude between the armies of both the countries.
Colonel Babu left with 35 soldiers
On June 15, at 7 pm, Colonel Babu, accompanied by a team of 35 men of officers and soldiers, went on foot towards the post that the Chinese had rebuilt. It also included two majors. The atmosphere of the team was not like tension, but it was as if they were going to make some inquiries.
When this Indian team reached near the Chinese camp, the first thing that the Indian soldiers realized was that the gesture of the Chinese soldiers was different. The Chinese soldiers present there were not those whose duty was normally done at that place.
Due to the deployment at the same place, the soldiers of 16 Bihar Regiment had made good behavior with the soldiers of the Chinese unit. He hoped that there would be the same Chinese soldiers and officers whom he knew. 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 had been brought here in the second fortnight of May. The 16 Regiment had also received information that some 'new' soldiers of the PLA had come here, but it was clear that the movement of these soldiers was deep inside the Chinese border across the LAC.
Chinese soldier pushed Colonel Babu
When the Indian team reached that disputed post, then these new soldiers of China appeared in a different style. When Colonel Babu started the conversation and asked why he had made that post again, a soldier of the Chinese army came forward and pushed Colonel Babu back. According to the report, this abusive soldier of China also used derogatory words in Chinese language.
Indian soldiers rush to take revenge
Let us tell you that seeing your commanding officer being insulted in an army unit is like someone insulting or assaulting your parents. After this incident, the reaction from India came immediately and swiftly. The Indian team broke down on the Chinese. This fight was of punches and punches. No weapons of any kind were used during this period. In this fight that lasted for 30 minutes, people were injured on both sides, but the Indian team proved to be twenty during this time. The brave soldiers of 16 Bihar Regiment broke that post and erased every Chinese symbol from there. After pushing the commanding officer of India, the limit of restraint was already exhausted.
Colonel Babu sensed the danger
Soon after this incident, Colonel Babu realized that the mood of the Chinese was different. With the presence of new Chinese soldiers here and the mischief made by a person, they understood that something big was 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 anger towards the Chinese had increased in the Indian camp, but according to the information, Colonel Babu was still restrained, he pacified his soldiers.
After catching the new Chinese soldiers caught in the scuffle by Colonel Babu and his team, they went across the LAC towards the Chinese border. The Indian team not only wanted to hand over these Chinese soldiers to their senior officers, but wanted to know if more Chinese soldiers were not coming.
It wasn't like a normal day
The developments of the last few hours of that evening of 15th June were indicating that this is not a petty confrontation like normal days. It is also possible that Indian soldiers have also assessed some movement towards China. This confrontation between Indian and Chinese soldiers was only a glimpse. An hour later the real fight was to take place. In this second battle itself, the soldiers had to pay the price of their lives.
Speaking to India Today, an army officer posted at the meeting point of the Shyok-Galwan river, not far from the scene, said, "Our soldiers were angry and aggressive. You can imagine how much they wanted to teach a lesson to the Chinese."
By now the Galwan valley was submerged in darkness. Visibility was reduced. What Colonel Babu had feared turned out to be true. The new Chinese soldiers were waiting with positions on both sides of the river. Apart from this, he was ready by taking a position on a ridge on the right side. As soon as the Indian soldiers reached there, big stones started raining on them.
When Colonel Babu suffered a head injury
Around 9 o'clock in the night, a big stone hit Colonel Babu's head and he fell into the Galwan river. The assessment is that he may not have been targeted intentionally, but he also got hit by a stone in the face of the confrontation.
Kink in the dark of night
This confrontation between India and Chinese soldiers lasted for 45 minutes. During this terrible war that took place in the dark of night, many soldiers were martyred. An important aspect of this fight is that this fight was taking place in many pockets across the LAC. This fight was happening in many groups. In which about 300 people were fighting with each other. By the time the 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.
In this face-to-face fight, the Chinese used nail rods and sticks. After this the two soldiers parted ways. Things remained calm till 11 pm. During this, the armies of both the countries picked up their injured soldiers who had fallen in the river and sent them for treatment.
Emotions were booming in the Indian camp
During this, Colonel Babu and other injured soldiers were taken towards the Indian camp. While the rest of the soldiers of the country remained present in the Chinese border to take stock of the situation. By now it became clear that the suspicion of the Commanding Officer of India was true. The soldiers of India were enraged to see their commanding officer being martyred in front of their eyes. The feelings of the soldiers for revenge were booming.
When Indian soldiers were evacuating their wounded soldiers from the river and other places, only then in the dark of night they heard the arrival of a drone. This was a sign of a new danger. This was an indication of the third skirmish between India and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley at midnight. The drone was slowly coming towards the valley. Presumably he was using infrared cameras and night vision, so that China could assess its losses and attack again.
Deadly Platoon arrived to help
Meanwhile, the Indian Army present on the spot had requested for more help. A large number of Indian soldiers reached there. It also included deadly platoons of 16 Bihar Regiment and 3 Punjab Regiment. The deadly platoon consisted of the soldiers who lead the attack. By the time soldiers came from India's side, the Indian army went deep inside the Chinese border. Indian soldiers wanted to ensure that more Chinese soldiers did not come close to the LAC and they were stopped beforehand.
Third fight after 11 o'clock
The third confrontation between the Chinese and Indian troops began shortly after 11 pm and continued sporadically until after midnight. This battle was fought entirely in the Chinese border. During this there was a face-to-face scuffle. Indian soldiers were breaking down on the Chinese, but due to the narrow valley and steep climb, many soldiers fell into the river. Many soldiers were hurt by stones while falling.
After 5 hours of this fight which started at seven o'clock, the situation was getting normal now. Health workers from both India and China reached there. Dead soldiers were being picked up, wounded soldiers were treated. The exchange of wounded and dead soldiers took place in the dark. During this, 10 Indian army personnel were captured by China. It included 2 Majors, 2 Captains and 6 Jawans.
Body of 16 Chinese soldiers handed over
India Today has learned that for the first time since the battle, the overall assessment found that the bodies of 16 of its soldiers were handed over to China after the third battle. In this 5 officers of China were also involved. However, this debriefing report does not mention whether the body of the commanding officer of China was in these five bodies. In this way 16 Chinese soldiers died in the battle field itself. It is being assessed that just as 17 wounded soldiers of India lost their lives on the second day of the battle, similarly many wounded soldiers of China have died later. However, there is no confirmation from China about this, nor is it likely to happen.
There was no such situation as 'prisoner exchange'
According to information received by India Today, there was no such situation as 'prisoner exchange' after the third fight. In the darkness of the night, the restlessness after the war, the temperature below zero, many soldiers were left here and there in all these situations. By the morning of June 16, the Indian soldiers crossed the LAC and returned to their posts. When it was found that many soldiers still had not returned, the Major Generals of both sides spoke and it was agreed to return the 'missing' soldiers from both sides. An Indian Army officer said that there was no hostage situation after the war. We were giving medical help to his soldiers, he was treating our soldiers.
