Chinese incursion in Uttarakhand clear case of intelligence failure: Defence Expert

New Delhi: Asserting that the reports of Chinese incursion in Uttarakhand was an extremely worrisome factor for India, Defence Expert P.K. Sehgal on Thursday stated that the grim development indicates that India is not as alert as it should be at it borders and also called for increased surveillance.

Speaking to ANI here, Defence expert P.K. Sehgal claimed that China`s lack of keenness to delineate the borders is proof of their nefarious intentions and India should accordingly pull up its socks."Right from 1962, the Chinese have been interested in all mountain passes.

They have not delineated the border in Uttarakhand, neither in Arunachal or in the Central Sector or along the LAC. However before they delineate the borders, they are keen to occupy all dominating heights and passes so that India remains perpetually at their mercy," he said.

Further stating that China has been showing a surge of interest in the religious sites like Char Dham, Sehgal added that India needs to massively boost its surveillance.

He also asserted that the recent case of yet another incursion was a prime example of intelligence failure, and also the failure of India`a ability to keep the area under perennial surveillance."You got aircrafts, drones, satellites, helicopters and all sorts of surveillance aids in place and yet if they come in without being detected, it is indicating to the fact that we are not as alert as we ought to be.

Also, the infrastructure there is quite poor compared to the Chinese, who are highly developed, ergo they can move in very fast," he said.Meanwhile, the Centre has downplayed the Chinese incursion saying that it was not a very serious issue and they will resolve it on ground level."

The briefing that we have received from DG of the Indo Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) according to that some incident of incursion has been witnessed there.

But that is not a very serious issue," said Minister of State Home affair, Kiren Rijiju.He further stated that the Uttarakhand officials and People Liberation Army (PLA) of China was present there and had a little verbal spat over the border line but later went back to their region.

In the context of air violation by the Chinese Army Rijiju said, "Air violation was there but up to the border area and the face off was not that serious issue."Asserting that India will not discuss this issue at the diplomatic Forum, Rijiju said that the matter will be resolved on the ground level.

Earlier today Rawat confirmed an incursion by Chinese troops into Chamoli district of Uttarakhand."The state revenue authorities were there for mapping of our land and they noticed their presence. Earlier, there were sporadic incidents, but this time it is happening at a larger scale.

However, I think that there is nothing to be alarmed as the activities were noticed in Chinese territory," Rawat told ANI.However, later in the day Rawat, made a somersault saying there is an increase in the number of Chinese troops along the Indian border, but ruled out any incursion into Indian territory.

Uttarakhand shares a 350 kilometer long boundary with China and similar attempts at Chinese incursions have been reported in the past.The last reported Chinese incursion in the state was when the word `China` was inscribed on rocks near Mana Pass in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.