Dibrugarh: Reports and visuals allegedly showing a face-off between Indian Army personnel and troops of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the Taksing Circle of Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Subansiri district have surfaced on social media, fuelling fresh concerns over the situation along the India-China border.
The images and videos circulating online bear a July 26, 2026 timestamp, while some sources cited in the reports claim the alleged confrontation may have started a day earlier, on July 25.
The development comes amid an ongoing controversy over alleged Chinese activities near Taksing, Maza, Galemu, Potrang Lake, Tama Chuchu, Galen Sinyik and Shreechu Valley, areas located close to Asaphila, which remains under PLA control.
The issue first came into the spotlight in late June after the Nah Welfare Society (NWS), a local tribal organisation, alleged that China had constructed roads, bridges and military camps in areas traditionally used by local communities for grazing livestock and collecting forest produce.
Despite these claims, both the Indian Army and Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Mama Natung have consistently denied any fresh Chinese intrusion, maintaining that reports of new encroachments are unfounded.
Earlier this month, the Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check unit also dismissed viral videos claiming a 60-km PLA advance, stating that the footage was old and unrelated to the current situation.
However, the latest images and videos circulating on social media are being cited by local residents and community leaders as fresh evidence that they say contradicts official statements, further heightening concerns among people living in the border region.
Amid the uncertainty, Ajay Murtem, a public leader from Kamle district, has written an open letter to the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, urging the state government to conduct an on-ground assessment of the reported locations.
In his appeal, Murtem called on the government to coordinate with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Indian Army, and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to verify the facts and issue an official statement to counter misinformation.
He also urged the authorities to strengthen border surveillance and implement confidence-building measures to reassure residents living in frontier areas. Copies of the letter have been sent to both the Union Home Minister and the Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister.