Resistance continuing, admit Pindi sources
RAWALPINDI, MAY 23 The Bangladesh Liberation Forces have seized the passenger river steamer the Rocket, and sentenced 17 of its non- Bengali passengers to death in a “people court”, diplomatic sources said yesterday, reports AP.
This indicated resistance is continuing in the east despite Army claims of crushing it, they added. The sources said such incidents maintained a “climate of terror” preventing politicians from collaborating with the regime and frightening West Pakistani civil servants, who have been assigned to work in the east since the Army crackdown against Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his nowbanned Awami League.
According to the diplomats, the Liberation Forces are also seizing barges and burning cargoes of jute on their way to market towns. According to the informants, early May they halted the steamer which makes regular runs between Dacca and Khulna. They selected 17 persons to be tried at a“ people’s court in Jaynagar High School in Gopalganj. According to one witness, 12 of the 17 sentenced to death were executed.
The Rocked was operated by a private Pakistani river service.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 24.5.71