BEIJING: China Tuesday alleged that the Indian troops twice crossed the borderline on June 15 for illegal activities and provoked and attacked Chinese personnel which led to serious physical conflict between the two sides, contesting the Indian Army’s position that the violent face-off took place between the troops during the “de-escalation process” in the Galwan Valley.

According to the Indian Army, an officer and two soldiers were killed in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh Monday during the violent face off with the Chinese troops.

“I am not aware of the information you provided,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in Beijing when asked about the reports of the Indian casualties at the contested borders.

“Our border troops had a high-level meeting and reached important consensus on easing the border situation but astonishingly June 15 the Indian troops seriously violated our consensus and twice crossed the border line for illegal activities and provoked and attacked Chinese personnel which led to serious physical conflict between the two sides and China has lodged strong protest and representation with the Indian side,” Zhao said.

(With inputs from agencies)