In an attempt to thwart increasing aggressiveness by the Chinese over control of the ‘Finger Area’ in North Sikkim, India has strengthened defences and converted its positions into a permanent post to keep watch over troop movements.

While the Northernmost tip of Sikkim, which is just over a kilometre in length, was always part of Indian Territory, the Army earlier used to send in only regular patrols and had a few traditional defensive positions in the area.

The decision to set up a permanent position came two months ago after an unusually high number of intrusions in the area and a discovery eight months ago that the alignment of a new East-West road being built by China would pass thorough the Finger Area. Things heated up after China ‘informed’ India that it would need to blast some stone formations along the border to make way for the road.

While construction was halted after a diplomatic complaint was lodged by New Delhi, the Indian Army, which currently holds the area, strengthened bunkers, built new vehicle tracks, repaired old roads and set up defensive positions to counter any possible threat.

The ‘Finger Area’, which falls north of Gyangyong in Sikkim and overlooks a valley known as the Sora Funnel, is considered a strong defensive position to ward off any move by China to enter the Sikkim plateau.

Sources said the Army always had a permanent presence in the area and had constructed bunkers and temporary posts since 1962. The stone cairns, which China had threatened to destroy, had also been modified as defensive positions by the Army. The Kalimpong-based 27 Mountain Division is responsible for the defence of Northern Sikkim and the Finger Area.

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