The ministry of defence announced on Tuesday that a "violent faceoff" took place between Indian and Chinese Armies in Eastern Ladakh on Monday night even as the two sides continue talks to resolve their ongoing standoff. The ministry of defence released an interim statement noting that an "officer and two soldiers" of Indian Army had died in the incident. An amended statement said there were casualties on "both sides".
This is believed to be the first incident of violence leading to fatalities between India and China in over four decades. Four soldiers were killed in a Chinese ambush in Arunachal Pradesh in 1975.
The ministry of defence stated, "During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation."
Reports suggested that a colonel commanding an infantry battalion was the officer killed, though this is yet to be confirmed. Morever, it is being speculated the clash involved use of stones and clubs and not firearms. In May, Indian and Chinese soldiers clashed in two separate incidents in Ladakh. While several soldiers were reported to be injured, no fatalities were reported.
The Indian Army is expected to give more details on the incident later in the day.