Chinese bulldozers never entered Indian territory: Army

New Delhi July 3 (IANS) The Indian Army on Monday dismissed reports of bulldozers being used by the Chinese army to destroy army camps in Doklam area where a stand-off is continuing between the two sides.

Some army officials who did not want to be named denied reports that the Chinese troops used bulldozers to destroy Indian Army s makeshift camps but refused to divulge any further details.

The Indian Army and the Defence Ministry have maintained a silence on the issue so far and a statement explaining the details of the incident was issued by the External Affairs Ministry on Friday.

Army officials said only the External Affairs Ministry could make a statement on the issue which involved two foreign countries -- Bhutan and China.

India in its statement on Friday denied that Indian troops crossed the boundary in the Sikkim sector of the India-China frontier and entered the Chinese territory.

It said a People s Liberation Army (PLA) s construction party entered Doklam area on June 16 and attempted to build a road despite objections from a Royal Bhutan Army patrol. Bhutan lodged a protest with China on June 20.

On Thursday Bhutan said the construction of the road inside its territory was a violation of the 1988 and 1998 agreements with China.

--IANS
ao/nir