THE STATESMAN, JULY 20, 1971
PAK MILITARY DOCUMENTS REVEAL
LOOTING AND RAPE
From Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi, June 19. – The Government of India has in possession military documents from Pakistani Army personnel revealing two aspects of the state of affairs in Bangladesh (1) continued action by the Mukti Fouj inside Bangladesh and (2) looting of property, assault and rape of women by the Pakistani troops.
The documents have been seized from some of the Pak troops who had surrendered to Indian hands just to save their lives from the hands of the Mukti Fouj.
Looting, assaults and rape had been on such a large-scale that the Pak military authorities were compelled to issue orders setting up trial courts for this purpose.
Some details of the documents are:
(1) A secret letter from Lt. Col. Zehir Sarwardy, Staff Officer in Hq., 9 Division No. 16604/4, dated 10.5.71, addressed to 30 P.B., Hq.. Frontier Corps.
It admitted clearly that the Mukti Fouj guerillas had been blowing up railways and road bridges and laying mines on roads to be used by military vehicles laying ambushes, throwing hand-grenades and sniping.
The same document complained of cases when patriotic elements had taken away money from banks and government treasuries and snatched firearms from the Police and the Army.
(2)A confidential letter from 109070/G.S. (OPS) dated 7.5.71 :
Brig. Maj.Hg.131 Brigade in Sylhet No.
This document admits that there had been reports of looting of property and assault and rape of girls and that the commandant had taken a serious view of them. The commandant had directed that in future anyone found guilty of such crimes would be punished.
(Note may be taken that persons connected with the crimes in future and not the past ones are to be tried!)
(3)A letter from Major G. R. Bhatti from Hg 313 Brigade, No 2001/ 20/A (OPS), dated 2.5.71 :
This mentions unambiguously of reports (received at Hq Eastern Command) of looted materials being back-loaded to Dacca and Karachi. The Eastern involvement of military officers had also been reported. The GOC-in-C, Eastern Command, and the GOC 9 Division had taken a serious view of these instances.
(4) A signal message from Hq, Frontier Corps, dated 7.5.71, to 313 Brigade. No. G- 1201, for Major Amjad Hussain 2 Wing saying that 313 Brigade reports cases of serious indiscipline in the ranks.