Jharkhand son martyred in Ladakh face-off with Chinese troops

Hemant Soren pays homage to late Kundan Ojha

Ranchi: Sepoy Kundan Ojha of Dihari village in Jharkhandś Sahibganj district was among the three Indian soldiers killed in a violent face-off with Chinese troops at Galwan Valley in Ladakh Monday night.

Colonel B Santosh Babu and Havildar Palani were also killed in the clash in the midst of de-escalation efforts following several weeks of tension at the border.

Condolences poured in from various quarters soon after Jharkhandś brave son getting martyred transpired. Chief Minister Hemant Soren in a tweet paid homage to late Ojha. ¨.¨

In an earlier tweet, Soren said, ¨Disturbed, sad & disappointed to hear about the violent standoff yesterday night at #LadakhBorder. My homage & tributes to the armymen who sacrificed their lives to protect our national sovereignty & my thoughts and prayers are with their family members in this hour of bereavement.¨

Indian forces retaliated and there were casualties on both sides, said sources.

Sources further said the soldiers were not shot but were killed in a physical fight on Indian Territory that involved stones and batons. The foreign ministry said the clashes happened “as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo there”.

Major Generals of both sides met to de-escalate tension after the clashes, an official statement said. This is the first violent incident involving fatalities since 1975 between India and China, who fought a border war in 1962.