BSF, Pak troops exchange fire in Dawki sector
SHILLONG, JULY 23 – Pakistani troops opened unprovoked artillery fire on Indian positions in the Dawki Sector of Meghalaya – East Bengal border last night, report PTI and UNI. The Indian Border Security Forces returned the fire and the exchange continued the whole night. There were no casualties on the Indian side.
Pakistani troops also fired on fleeing evacuees from Sylhet district of East Bengal yesterday. Three of the 2000 fresh evacuees who entered Meghalaya through the Dawki outpost had bullet wounds.
According to reports reaching here from across the border about one million people from East Bengal were reportedly fleeing towards India in search of food.
Our Own Correspondent at Karimganj writes : Pakistani troops fired several rounds on the Karimganj border yesterday. The firing was unprovoked.
The Pakistani Navy is going ahead with plans to provide greater shore facilities in East Bengal, Radio Pakistan reported today.
Pakistan Navy Chief, Vice Admiral Muzaffar Husain, announced this while addressing officers in Chittagong yesterday.
“This along with other measures, will go a long way in increasing the operational efficiency of the Naval Force in East Pakistan,” he said.
The Navy Chief added that the plans would also help other inland water services in East Bengal.
He disclosed that the headquarters of the Flag Officer commanding East Bengal would be set up in Dacca.
Guerillas ambushed an Army patrol in Dhamirhat area in Rangpur sector on July 16. killing over a dozen Pakistani soldiers and seizing their arms, according to a delayed report from across the border.
In reprisal, the Army arrested about 45 innocent civilians and killed them all in cold blood.
Guerillas kidnapped the son of a notorious collaborator from Jaimunirhat area and also apprehended three Army spies at the Daulapara village near Hatibandha.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 24.07.1971