THE STATESMAN, JULY 19, 1971
PAK TROOPS ON THE DEFENSIVE IN
EASTERN SECTOR
From S. Chakrabarti
Agartala, July 17. – Information trickling from across the border suggests that Pakistani forces are trying to save the Dacca metropolis, Moynamati Cantonment and Chittagong port from anticipated guerrilla attacks. According to these sources, the largest number of Pakistani troops have been mobilized in the eastern sector and the Chittagong- Sylhet sector alone have a strength of about 70,000 troops. The strength of the forces in the western sector is thought to be less.
The Pakistani effort to keep intact the land routes linking Dacca, Moynamati and Chittagong has failed so far. They have not been able to install the urgently needed telephone linking the strategic army points in the extreme countryside along the border despite a three-month struggle.
During the last month, the freedom fighters have carried out nearly 90 successful guerrilla and commando operations at many points in the eastern region, indicating heavy casualties on Pakistani troops. According to reliable estimates about 1,700 Pakistani soldiers were either killed or seriously injured during these operations, while the loss on the Mukti Fouj side is stated to be minor.
In Dacca, skirmishes between guerrillas and the army are frequent and when this happens the frightened and numbed city is turned into a turbulent battle-field. On June 28, immediately after Yahya Khan’s broadcast, a series of guerrilla attacks took place at several important points of the city, while the “Pak Bay Company” complex in Narayanganj was destroyed by guerrillas on July 3. People living in areas far from the complex saw the raging flames throughout the night.
The freedom fighters are now concentrating on strategic army points, important city and industrial areas and communication links it is claimed.
Meanwhile, the change in the Pakistani Army strategy in the eastern region has become more pronounced. The Pakistani troops now mainly engaged in defending their bases in the rural areas and controlling important land water routes have created a “vacuum zone” retreating from their extreme points on the several hundred miles border between Sylhet and Chittagong with the exception of their strongholds there mainly to avoid the innumerable casualties inflicted on them and presumably to build up a stronger second line of defense in the interior. Troops scattered in small camps in the border areas have been withdrawn to their strongholds in the rear.
The “Razakar Bahini” a new paramilitary force recruited from a section of nonBengali youths, most of whom are reported to be antisocial elements, have been deployed in some of the border areas vacated by the troops. These Razakars, who often suffer heavy casualties at the hands of the Mukti Fouj, are keeping themselves engaged mainly in robbing and killing evacuees attempting to cross the border. About 300 evacuees are feared to have been killed so far by them.
The freedom fighters are now using sophisticated Chinese weapons snatched from Pakistani troops in the eastern sector. The well-equipped Pakistani troops who stormed into the countryside hardly a month ago, creating panic wherever they went are now frightened of the guerrillas who have inflicted heavy casualties on them.
According to a reliable report from across the border seven Pakistani soldiers stationed since a month ago in a house in a Comilla village near Nabinagar to safeguard the life of a Muslim League leader wanted by the guerrillas, have been killed. These soldiers challenged by the guerrillas from outside the house at dead of night were so surprised that they failed to make any attempt to defend themselves. I was also told another story while at the Devipur border point some 20 km from here opposite Mondabhag in Comilla district. Around 3 p.m. last Saturday eight Pakistani troops, including two Majors, two Captains and four other soldiers were killed when guerrillas launched a sudden attack on an army speedboat at Saldanadi in the extreme Comilla border area. Troops, who were on an inspection visit to the Saldanadi camp were actually in a hurry to leave this extreme area when they were suddenly attacked. Some Chinese weapons a wireless set and a speedboat were captured by the guerrillas and another speedboat was destroyed during the attack.