New Delhi: 20 Indian soldiers including a Colonel were killed and several others grievously injured in a violent with face-to- face off with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley region of Eastern Ladakh on Monday.

The Indian causalities will increase further because several soldiers have been injured in the clashes that several hours till midnight, while a few are still reported to be missing. Some Indian soldiers were apparently also taken captive by the People’s Liberation Army, who were present in far greater numbers and armed with Nall-studied iron rods and stones during the prolonged brawl, but were later released after high level military talks. One radio and other intercepts indicate there were 43 causalities in the PLA ranks, which include both the dead and seriously injured. The situation is fluid on the ground but no firing has taken place yet, said a source.

According to Indian Army statement, Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged in the Galwan areas where they clashed on the midnight of June 15^th & 16^th. China blamed India for provoking the clash, a charge India rejected saying that violence occurred as Chinese troops refused to honour the De- escalation plan. Sources said the face-to- face off was triggered by Chinese soldiers, who after initially pulling back a little, came back to erect a temporary post near patrolling point 14 (PP- 14) on the Indian side Galwan region along the LAC on Monday morning.

The PLA soldiers suddenly attacked a small contingent of Indian troops led by Colonel B. Santosh Babu after they were challenged for flouting the phased disengagement agreement thrashed out by rival commanders on the ground. In the ensuing “Free for all” brawl that began in the evening and went on till around midnight, rival soldiers attacked and chased each other, with many falling into the Galwan rivulet in the area located at an altitude of over 14, 500 feet with steep ravines and gorges.

The Commandant Officer Colonel Santosh Babu of 16^thBihar Regiment who had led the disengagement talks with his Chinese counterpart in the area and two soldiers, Hawaldar K. Phalani and Sepoy Kundan Kumar Ohja died on the spot. The other 17 Indian soldiers who were critically injured in the line of duty at stand- off location and exposed to sub zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain later succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20, said the Army in a late night official statement on Tuesday.

The Indian Army is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation, it said.