Agni V tested again: Muscle-flexing after Chinese incursion?

India today successfully carried out night trials of the much-tested Agni V nuclear-capable ballistic missile, which can hit targets beyond 5,400 km, obviously keeping in mind China, as the other adversary Pakistan is within the reach of missiles with less range. Announcing the success of the test, sources in the Ministry of Defence said the trial assumed significance amid continuous pin-pricks by China by way of incursions into Indian territory, with the latest instance being in Arunachal Pradesh last week where the PLA returned with a bloody nose.

The Agni V test was carried out to validate new technologies and equipment on the missile and has proved that the missile can now hit targets further away than before, the sources said. The nuclear-capable ballistic missile was fired from Abdul Kalam Island, off the coast of Odisha.

This is the ninth test flight of the Agni V, a missile first tested in 2012, and was a “routine test”, the sources otherwise said, which comes after an attempt by more than 200 Chinese troops — armed with spiked clubs with nails on them, monkey fists and taser guns — to capture the Yangtse area of Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector on 9 December.

A video of another clash with China surfaced soon after the latest instance of conflict on social media where PLA soldiers were seen scared away by blows of sticks that Indian troops showered on them while hurling expletives in Punjabi.

While the Agni V test was carried out days after the clashes, it had been planned earlier. India had announced its intention to test a long-range missile and issued a NOTAM or Notice to Airmen well before the incident in Arunachal’s Tawang.

This happened before the Agni V test

With the incursion in Arunachal, China had tried to “unilaterally change the status quo” on the Line of Actual Control last week, triggering clashes that left troops on both sides injured, the government had said, adding that the attempt had been successfully repulsed.

The Chinese were challenged by a group of about 50 Indian soldiers who stopped the PLA advance in an area that saw a similar clash in October 2021.

Within half an hour, the Indian backup team arrived at the spot, following which a clash ensued. This clash, according to sources, started off with stone pelting before troops from both sides engaged in hand-to-hand combat.

Sources said that while the Indian troops were not armed with taser guns, they had “everything and more than what the Chinese had” to be able to retaliate.

The Chinese were not carrying rifles, sources said, adding that they came in with wooden clubs and spikes with nails on them, and monkey fists — a crude weapon made of iron that is worn on the wrist — besides tasers.

Sources said that the PLA troops suffered more injuries since the Indian troops had managed to overwhelm the Chinese strength within 30 minutes. At least 15 Indian personnel were injured in the clash, including those who suffered fractures, sources told ThePrint, adding that the Chinese were trying to gain ‘morale superiority’ since there was a change of a particular unit of the Army deployed along front areas on the Indian side at the time.

Confirming that a clash has indeed taken place, the Indian Army in a statement Monday said: “On 09 December 2022, PLA troops contacted the LAC in Tawang Sector which was contested by own troops in a firm and resolute manner. This face-off led to minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides”. It added that both sides immediately disengaged from the area.