India’s army “apprehended” and took into custody a Chinese soldier on Friday for transgressing the Line of Actual Control south of the Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh amid a border standoff.

It’s being investigated under what circumstances he had crossed the LAC, the army said.

“During early hours of 08 January, a Chinese soldier was apprehended on the Indian side of the LAC, in Ladakh, in an area south of Pangong Tso lake. The PLA (People’s Liberation Army) soldier had transgressed across the LAC and was taken into custody by Indian troops deployed in this area,” an army statement said.

“Troops from either side are deployed along the LAC since friction erupted last year due to unprecedented mobilisation and forward concentration by Chinese troops. The PLA soldier is being dealt with as per laid-down procedures, and (the) circumstances under which he had crossed the LAC are being investigated.”

Indian and Chinese troops have since early May been locked in a standoff at multiple points in Ladakh, including the Pangong Lake, Hot Springs and the Depsang Plains.

The Chinese soldier was caught in the Chushul sector where Indian troops are deployed at altitudes of 14,000 feet, and where the temperatures have touched minus 40 degrees Celsius.