According to earlier reports by Indian media, an officer and two soldiers were among those killed near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
"During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation," reported NDTV quoting an official statement.
Meanwhile, UK publication The Telegraph, quoting Indian army sources, reported that four soldiers are currently missing and a further 32 "were handed back after being captured".
Beijing accuses India of crossing border, 'attacking personnel'
China, in response to India's statement, accused Indian troops of crossing a disputed border between the two countries, reported AFP.
Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Indian troops crossed the border line twice on Monday, "provoking and attacking Chinese personnel, resulting in serious physical confrontation between border forces on the two sides".
"We once again solemnly ask the Indian side to follow our consensus, strictly regulate its front-line troops and do not cross the line, do not stir up troubles or make unilateral moves that may complicate matters," Press Trust of India quoted Lijian as saying.
He added, "China and Indian side agreed to resolve the bilateral issues through dialogue to ease the border situation and maintain peace and tranquility in border areas."
According to Editor-in-chief of Chinese publication Global Times, the Chinese side also suffered casualties in the Galwan Valley.
“Based on what I know, Chinese side also suffered casualties in the Galwan Valley physical clash. I want to tell the Indian side, don’t be arrogant and misread China’s restraint as being weak. China doesnIndian govt should stop lying about 'disengagement, 'mutual withdrawal': Shukla
Retired Indian Colonel and journalist Ajai Shukla urged the Indian government to stop lying and come clean about "disengagement" and "mutual withdrawal".
“Reports of thee soldiers killed in Galwan clash with Chinese. First LAC combat casualties since 1975. Time for the government to come clean and stop lying about "disengagement" and "mutual withdrawal". A national crisis is no time for deception,” he tweeted.’t want to have a clash with India, but we don’t fear it,” he tweeted.Tensions between India and China have been mounting owing to a border dispute in the eastern Ladakh region as both armies from both the countries have moved heavy weaponry and equipment to their base camps near the disputed territory.
Indian military sources have been quoted in the Indian media saying China has been pushing in artillery, infantry combat vehicles and heavy military equipment in its rear bases near the LAC in eastern Ladakh.
An earlier report had stated that the Indian Army is doing the same and deploying additional troops along with heavy machinery at the border.
India claims Chinese troops aggravated tensions by moving into the Pangong Tso and Galwan Valley areas earlier this month. India said the Chinese Army has bolstered its presence in Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie areas as well where disputes are known to take place between the two sides.
On May 6, the troops from both sides clashed and hurled stones at each other. There have been long-running border tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours, with a bitter war fought over India´s northeastern-most state of Arunachal Pradesh in 1962.
"Aggressive behaviour by the two sides resulted in minor injuries to troops. It was stone-throwing and arguments that ended in a fistfight," Indian Army Eastern Command spokesman Mandeep Hooda had told AFP on May 10.
The "stand-off" at Naku La sector near the 15,000-feet (4,572-metre) Nathu La crossing in the northeastern state of Sikkim — which borders Bhutan, Nepal and China — was later resolved after "dialogue and interaction" at a local level, Hooda had revealed.
"Temporary and short duration face-offs between border-guarding troops do occur as boundaries are not resolved," he had said.
Col. Santosh Babu had told his parents that he would soon be transferred to Hyderabad, but the process was delayed because of the Covid-19 situation
The mother of Colonel B. Santosh Babu, who was killed by the Chinese Army in Eastern Ladakh on Monday night, is proud that her son made the supreme sacrifice for the sake of the country.
Commanding Officer Santosh Babu, who along with two jawans was killed in the face-off between the two armies during the de-escalation in Galwan Valley, hailed from Suryapet district in Telangana.
"I am both sad and proud. My son has laid down his life for the country. As a mother I am sad. He was my only son," said Manjula, fighting the tears.
Santosh is survived by his wife, nine-year old daughter and a four-year old son.
His parents were shocked on hearing the news of their son's killing on Tuesday afternoon. "Our daughter-in-law is in Delhi and she was informed last night. We received the news in the afternoon," she said.
"We were not ready to believe but were told it is true. We have lost our son," said Santosh's father Upender, a retired bank officer.
He recalled that Santosh joined the Sainik School in the sixth class. "I wanted to serve in the Army but I could not achieve the goal. I realised my dream through my son. He was very talented and got many promotions in his 15 years of service," he said.
Santosh was with 16 Bihar Regiment and was serving on the Indo-China border for the last one-and-a-half years. He had told his parents that he would soon be transferred to Hyderabad, but the process was delayed because of the Covid-19 situation.
"I last spoke to him on Sunday night. I asked him about the reports of the two armies pulling back after the talks. He told me not to believe the reports as talks are different and the situation on the ground is different. He said the situation is serious. I told him to take care," said Manjula.
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