Even as everyone in the government, including PM Manmohan Singh, is trying to bring down the rhetoric on China, the Home Ministry, in a highly unusual move, is learnt to be planning action against two reporters of a national daily for what the ministry claims was a wrong report about Chinese firing from across the border.

Sources in the Home Ministry said the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which guards the India- China border, had lodged an official complaint with the Delhi Police against the September 15 report that said that two ITBP jawans in northern Sikkim had been injured in firing by Chinese soldiers about a fortnight ago.

Sources said an FIR against the two reporters was being contemplated but they did not have any clarity on the charges that could be brought against the journalists. Delhi Police will take a decision on the charges, the sources said.

The news report had been denied by the ITBP, and their statement was carried by the concerned newspaper the next day.

In the last few days, there have been a series of reports about the increased military activity on the Chinese side of the border and even possible incursions by Chinese soldiers into Indian territory.

The government has denied all such reports and ruled out any increase in the threat perception from China.