Barahoti

In July 1952, an Intelligence Bureau of India note stated that during the end of the 19th century the Tibetans had been establishing a customs post at the Hoti Plain. In 1890, the British got the Tibetans to remove the post, however, the Tibetans re-established the post in later years. The IB note said that if the Tibetans are not removed, they may eventually claim the territory.[1][2]

However, following a statement by the [lower-alpha 1]Uttar Pradesh government at the time that no encroachment had taken place in the area, the Chinese claimed the area as their own. Further, Indian negotiators made a mistake at the time; in Beijing, they only named six passes without delineating other locations on the border. China saw the opportunity and started claiming numerous areas including the area south of the Tunjun-la pass, where the plain of Barahoti is located.[1][2]

India and China communicated until 1958, when a conference on the issue was held. The talks failed. After the failure of the talks, Subimal Dutt wrote: "The only positive suggestion made by the Chinese is that there should be a joint local enquiry". Claude Arpi notes that "India refused (the joint local enquiry) when it discovered that was just a pretext for China to find out the exact location of the place. They thought that Barahoti (they call it Wuje) was north of Tunjun-la."[1][2]

In India's central sector consisting of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, Barahoti is part of the Barahoti Lapthal Sangchamalla claim by China.[3][4]

Barahoti is located south of the Tunjun-la pass.[1] It is a three kilometer trek from Barahoti to Barahoti ridge, from where Parvati Kund is a short distance. Within Barahoti is the seasonal Hoti river.[5] Barahoti is surrounded by snowy mountain peaks.[6]

In Barahoti, there are small Hindu shrines. The Chinese have reportedly pulled down these shrines multiple times.[5] The border is not demarcated in the area and it is a demilitarised zone in which Indo-Tibetan Border Police do not carry firearms.[7][8] As per an agreement in 2005, firearms in the area are not allowed.[1] However, in 2016, uniformed Chinese soldiers entered the area with firearms.[1] Claude Arpi notes that the government of India played down the situation.[1] Chinese transgressions into Barahoti have been reported by the Indian media over the years including in 2014, 2017 and 2018.[7][8] In 2013, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand told New Delhi that 37 incursion attempts had been made between 2007 and 2012 in Barahoti.[5]

• The History of Barahoti Plain by Claude Arpi