The violent face-off between the Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh on Monday night during the de-escalation process followed by skirmishes over a border dispute had claimed the lives of three army men of the Indian Army, signaling the escalating tensions between the nations amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

The three martyrs include an army colonel and two soldiers of which one was from Tamil Nadu. The deceased army man was identified as 40-year-old Palani, who was a native of Kadukkalar Village in Ramanathapuram district. He joined the army when he was 18 years old and he was surviving with his wife and two children. He was stationed at the Galwan Valley region. 

#LadakhBorder பகுதியில் சீன இராணுவம் தாக்கியதில், பாதுகாப்பு பணியில் ஈடுபட்டிருந்த இராமநாதபுரம் - கடுக்கலூர் கிராமத்தைச் சேர்ந்த தமிழக வீரர் திரு.பழனி அவர்கள் உயிரிழந்த செய்தியறிந்து மிகுந்த வேதனை அடைந்தேன். வீரமரணம் எய்திய பழனி அவர்களின் குடும்பத்தினருக்கு எனது ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கல்!

— Edappadi K Palaniswami (@CMOTamilNadu) June 16, 2020

According to the reports, the violent clash occurred near the region on Monday night when the Indian troops were on the process of de-escalating and ease the tensions and dispute that persisted since May and according to the Indian Army, both sides reported casualties and this is the first time that the Line of Actual Control (LAC) had reported the casualties in forty years. 

After the news of the demise of the Tamil Nadu soldier came to the revelation, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami has taken to Twitter and expressed his condolences to the family of the martyred. He stated that he has deeply grieved by the news that Palani, a soldier from Ramanathapuram district, has died on his duty while protecting the border against the Chinese troops. 

#Ladakh-ல் நடந்துவரும் மோதலில் இன்னுயிர் ஈந்த இந்திய இராணுவ வீரர்கள் மூவரின் தியாகத்துக்கு வீரவணக்கம்!

22 ஆண்டுகளாக ராணுவத்தில் பணியாற்றி,தனது உயிரையும் ஈந்துள்ள இராமநாதபுரம் மாவட்டம் கடுக்கலூர் கிராமத்தைச் சேர்ந்த பழனி அவர்களின் குடும்பத்துக்கு ஆறுதலைத் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன்! pic.twitter.com/1wCETxxUC2

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) June 16, 2020

Along with the Chief Minister, DMK President MK Stalin has also consoled the family members of the deceased. He offered his salute for the sacrifice done by the Indian Army soldiers in Ladakh against the India-China faceoff. Former Tamil Nadu BJP Chief and sitting Governor of Telangana Tamilisai Soundararajan had also expressed her condolences. 

லடாக் பகுதியில் நாட்டின் பாதுகாப்பு பணியில் ஈடுபட்டிருந்த இராமநாதபுரம் மாவட்டம் திருவாடானை, கடுக்கலூர் கிராமத்தை சேர்ந்த ராணுவ வீரர் திரு.பழனி அவர்கள் வீரமரணம் அடைந்த செய்தியறிந்து மிகுந்த மனவேதனை அடைந்தேன்.(1/3) pic.twitter.com/8TwY91LDjc

— Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan (@DrTamilisaiGuv) June 16, 2020

She stated that "I'm deeply anguished by hearing the death of martyr Palani, who belonged to Ramanathapuram district. I express my condolences to the martyr's family and I pray to the almighty God to calm his soul". The reports stated that Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tabled a meet with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, Chief of Defence Staff, and the chiefs of three services and took stock of the developments in Ladakh. Beijing has accused India of crossing the border and attacking the Chinese personnel. 

Must read: India-China faceoff: Three Indian Army men were killed in Ladakh as tensions mount!