Pak troops fire on Karimganj villages
From Our Own Correspondent, KARIMGANJ, JULY 13- Pakistani troops fired several rounds from Sharif Ganj Bazar in Sylhet district (Bangladesh) opposite the Bhanga sector on Indian territory yesterday morning. Some Pakistani bullets hit houses of villagers in Machli, Mirajpur and other places. No casualty on the Indian side was, however, reported.
Last week Pakistani bullets hit an Indian girl at Latu who had to be removed to hospital.
Previously, Pakistani troops fired on Bhanga and Garapata in the Sutarkandi areas on the Karimganj border and all these firings were unprovoked.
Pakistan has constructed strong bunkers all along its border opposite Karimganj.
Our Majdia Correspondent states that six suspected Pak spies had been held on Sunday at Gede when they were crossing the border and a map was found with them. They are all Bengalis residing on both sides of the border. ‘
Agencies add : Freedom fighters wiped out a Pakistani Army contingent in a surprise engagement on July 10 in Bogra district in the Rangpur sector, according to a delayed report received in New Delhi from Bangladesh.
Guerillas have also been active in the Dinajpur district, where they arrested a Pakistani agent in Chilahati area and seized his gun.
Reports from Dinajpur say that the so-called peace committees set up by the West Pakistani officers in Nageswari and other areas have failed to restore public confidence in the local administration. The Army authorities are trying to persuade the local villagers to resume cultivation but without any success.
The Mukti Fouj kept up the tempo of their guerilla attacks and ambushes in almost all sectors of Bangladesh.
Pakistani troops have found an easy way out of a recent “no retreat” order-they shoot their officer in command and fall back.
Reports reaching from across the border said that they explained away their retreat by reporting that their officer was “shot” by the Mukti Fouj and they had to fall back in the absence of anyone to lead them.
Meanwhile, desertions have also been reported from Baluch and Pathan units stationed in the eastern regions of Bangladesh. The latest was a batch of seven Pathan and Baluch troops who deserted their units in Comilla district.
Reports said these troops had expressed their horror at the murderous activities of the West Pakistani Punjabi Officers and Men. They refused to be a party to the killing of unarmed civilians. These troops had decided to join the Mukti Fauj, the reports added.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 14.07.1971