Comilla cut off from rest of Bangladesh
DACCA, AUG 1- Comilla on the eastern border of India was virtually cut off from the rest of Bangladesh yesterday after Mukti Fouj guerillas blasted power transmission pylons and a major bridge, 48 km west of the town on the main road from Dacca. report agencies.
Reliable sources said traffic was halted when the Meghna bridge was attacked.
Power was stopped for the second time in a month early on Friday when an explosion toppled pylons.
The Pakistan Army, meanwhile, braced for a possible general strike and violence in this city. Widespread sabotage is feared in view of a planned visit on Tuesday by President Yahya Khan who has not been in East Bengal since the Army crackdown four months ago against Sheik Mujibur Rahman’s Awami League.
Army sources said extra precautions were being taken to protect city reservoirs, power substations and other installations.
Mukti Bahini guerillas had killed at least 88 Pakistani troops and collaborators, snapped power supply, blasted coal depots and damaged a foreign oil tanker during the last six days from July 24 in the eastern part of Bangladesh covering Sylhet, Comilla, Noakhali and Chittagong.
Giving the above information a high officer of the Bangladesh Government said more than 250 square miles of Rangpur district is now under the control of Mukti Fouz where the civil administration has reorganized the police force and postal system will be introduced very soon.
Pakistani saboteurs are reported to be active in Tripura to sabotage road bridges, power and other important installations.
According to reports, the Martial Law authorities were now busy collecting identity cards issued by the Government of India to the evacuees, some who possibly had gone back, at handsome prices.
These identity cards were now being given to some faithful foot-men with orders to move towards India and carry on sabotage and subversion.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 02.08.1971