400 Pak troops die in guerilla attacks
MUJIBNAGAR, September 19. About 400 Pakistani troops were killed in commando attacks by the Mukti Bahini in wide areas of Comilla, Noakhali and Kushtia sectors during the last five day’s according to reliable reports received here.
About 20 Pakistani soldiers lost their lives during separate encounters at Mirzanagar and Raghurampur in Comilla district on September 15.
According to a report from Kushtia town, on September 14 about 130 Pakistani troops were machine gunned by the freedom fighters who jumped down from army vehicles which had caught fire after hitting underground mines. A fresh contingent of the Pakistani army, sent to meet the guerilla onslaught, was also ambushed, resulting in heavy casualties.
The reports said soon after these encounters, the Pakistani Air Force planes bombed and strafed nearby villages, causing heavy damage to many houses and rendering thousands homeless.
The liberation forces killed 27 Pakistani troops and left about 16 of them injured in separate commando raids at Kalyanpur and Lakshmipur in Comilla district on September 14. They also sank a Pakistani country boat at Kaiyaumpur.
Ten Pakistani soldiers were killed when the Mukti Bahini ambushed the enemy position at Ziabari in Noakhali district on the same day.
Reports from Dacca city said there had been intensified raids by the freedom fighters since late last month. Fourteen Pakistani soldiers were killed when the Mukti Bahini raided an army camp at Bashabo area in Dacca in the second week of this month. The guerillas also sank a barge loaded with jute goods at Narsingdi area near the town on September 7.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 20.09.1971