Fresh claims of a face-off between the Indian Army and China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) have surfaced from Arunachal Pradesh's Upper Subansiri district after purported photographs and videos of the alleged incident began circulating on social media. While the visuals have sparked renewed concerns over border activity, there has been no official confirmation from the Indian Army or the government.
The purported incident is said to have occurred in the Taksing Circle near the Line of Actual Control (LAC). According to claims accompanying the viral visuals, the confrontation took place on July 26, although some local sources alleged that tensions had begun a day earlier. The authenticity of the images and videos, however, remains unverified.
The latest reports come against the backdrop of recent allegations regarding increased Chinese activity in the frontier region. Last month, the Nah Welfare Society (NWS), representing local residents, claimed that China had built roads, bridges and military infrastructure in areas traditionally used by villagers for grazing livestock and collecting forest produce near Taksing, Maza, Galemu, Potrang Lake, Tama Chuchu, Galen Sinyik and Shreechu Valley.
The Indian Army and Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Mama Natung had dismissed those allegations, maintaining that there had been no fresh Chinese encroachment into Indian territory. The Press Information Bureau's Fact Check unit also rejected viral claims of a 60-km PLA advance into Arunachal Pradesh, stating that the videos being circulated online were old, unrelated and misleading.
However, the emergence of fresh visuals has once again fuelled concerns among residents of the border region. Several local leaders have urged the government to verify the reports through an on-ground assessment rather than relying solely on social media narratives or unofficial accounts.
Kamle district public leader Ajay Murtem has written an open letter to Chief Minister Pema Khandu, urging the state government to conduct an immediate field verification of the reported locations. He also called for a joint assessment involving the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), while seeking an official public statement to dispel rumours and reassure border communities.
Murtem further urged the government to strengthen surveillance and improve confidence-building measures for residents living along the sensitive frontier.
As of Thursday, neither the Ministry of Defence nor the Indian Army had confirmed any face-off in the area. Officials have also not authenticated the circulating photographs and videos, leaving the claims unverified even as speculation continues online.
Follow us
