Ladakh: China builds mobile towers after bridge, says councillor; wants Modi govt to boost infra

With military tension between India and China yet to be fully defused in Ladakh, a local councillor has raised alarm.

Chushul councillor Konchok Stanzin tweeted photographs of what he claimed were Chinese mobile towers close to Indian territory. Stanzin claimed that the towers were located on Chinese-controlled territory in the Hot Springs area. The councillor said that the situation was growing increasingly alarming as China had also recently finished a bridge at the Pangong Tso.

Stanzin said, "(To gain territory) China tries to settle civilians, and then army takes over that area. The situation is the same in Demchok. Even now, in most of our border villages, 4G internet services are not available. In Chushul, there's one mobile tower. On the other side, China has erected 9 mobile towers. I don't say we should match what China does. But at least in areas of human habitation and army deployment, facilities should be available."

Military-level talks between India and China continue to be held with Delhi stating that it wants the situation to return to as it was before Summer 2020. Two years ago, China had indulged in military aggression along the disputed border or LAC in Ladakh, leading to violence and deaths of soldiers at the Galwan Valley.