HINDUSTAN STANDARD, DECEMBER 13, 1971
INDIAN TROOPS PARA DROPPED NEAR DACCA
By Amitava Das Gopta
Indian troops were paradropped in selected areas in the vicinity of Dacca at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Simultaneously, Indian ground forces were closing in on the capital from more than one direction.
The advancing column from the bridge head established on the west bank of the Meghna on Friday liberated Narshinghdi on Sunday and maintained their march towards Dacca. On Sunday night the column was within 30 miles of the city.
With this the war for the liberation of Bangladesh can be said to have reached its final stage. Operation Dacca is proceeding extremely well and according to plan.
The paratroopers landed in strength were in contact with the enemy and have inflicted heavy casualties on the later. Fighting was going on as last reports came in. according to an Eastern Command spokesman. One Pak officer and 22 other ranks were killed and 12 were taken prisoners. A curfew, it is learnt, has meanwhile been clamped on Dacca by the Pakistani authorities.
Reporting continued fighting and a Pakistani counter offensive in the area, the spokesman said, “We are satisfied with the progress to Dacca”.
On the Bhairabbazar-Dacca axis, Indian forces from Narsinghdi were racing forward for a link up with the Indian paratroopers and the columns moving down south from Mymenshing town, he said.
Maj. Gen. Jacob, Chief of Staff, Eastern Command, told newsmen on Sunday the major part of Bangladesh all around Dacca had been liberated.
This perhaps has given an additional advantage 10 the Indian troops. However in the matter of Operation Dacca they have to operate within the limits of difficulties posed by the terrain around Dacca. The maneuverability of the troops is extremely limited because of rivers and marshy land. But considering all this they are doing extremely well.
To give additional support to the Indian troops engaged in operation Dacca the Mukti Bahini has already begun harassing tactics inside Dacca. They have already contacted the enemy at several points and given them a good fight.
Right now operations Dacca is being developed on the basis of two major thrusts one from Maymensingh via Tangail and the other from the bridgehead across the Meghna south of Bhairabbazar. The thrust from the Bhairabbazar point towards the south is proceeding satisfactorily white in the north. Indian troops have been moving quite rapidly from Mymensingh in the directions of Tangail.
Maj. Gen. Jacob told newsmen that several thrusts were actually being developed towards Dacca. Considering the terrain, the rivers and marshes and the large number of bridges destroyed by the Pakistani troops some problems of logistics were bound to develop. Even then Indian troops were advancing extremely fast especially because the Pakistanis were fighting quite desperately. The tempo of the fighting was quite bitter he said.
The important point about operation Dacca is that Indian troops have crossed the Meghna, which is about 1,200 yards wide and they are all proceeding towards Dacca. For purposes of reinforcements every effort is being made to get the advantage of local experience, steamers etc. Without disclosing any part of the Indian strategy it can be said that building up of forces is continuing with the help of steamers, helicopters and other rivercraft.
Against this background perhaps can be explained the effoerts of they key Pakistani personnel at Dacca to get out of Bangladesh. This they had tried to do by stealthy air fights and other means, but it is presumed they have not succeeded in their attempt so far.
Explaining the advances now being made by Indian troops along various sectors. Maj. Gen. Jacob said that the Indian troops were right now launching a major attack on Khulna and “we hope to be there soon”.
Kushtia which was heavily defended was liberated on Saturday. There was bitter fighting there. The enemy engaged Indian tanks and set up numerous bankers. But after overpowering the enemy at this point Indian troops were now proceeding towards the Padma.
Further east, after taking Maymensingh Indian troops are marching towards Tangail. Right now they are near the dense Madhupur forest. Similarly Indian troops are proceeding south from Jamalpur. In the Sylhet sector mopping up operation is going on and Pakistani troops are moving about in a scattered manner and occasionally shots are being fired in the air to Signal them about the position of Indian troops giving them a chance to surrender.
Giving a description of the casualties Maj. Gen. Jacob said that Pakistani casualties were quite heavy. In one action Indian casualties have also been heavy in most cases these have been light to moderate. The Pakistanis are still holding out at Mainamati garrison. It was not the intention of Indian troops to indulge in unnecessary killing. They will therefore be given another chance to surrender. If they do not they will be adequately dealt with.
Agencies add : Indian troops on Sunday reached Khulna Cantonment (Daulatpur) and heavy fighting was going on when last reports came in.
Replying to questions the Army spokesman said the Pakistanis appeared to be making “a last ditch stand” in the Khulna area before they surrendered. Since both Chalna and Mongla ports were blocked by naval action. They had no route of escape, he added.
Further up in north western Bangladesh, Indian forces have maintained pressure on the enemy in a two-pronged thrust from Hili and Gaibandha Goraghat and Govindgunj. The Indian columns have captured four Chaffee tanks, seven guns and two RCLs in the Govindgunj action. Also destroyed were two Chaffees while 60 Pak troops were killed. Forty enemy troops were taken prisoner.
The Indian Air Force which started Kushtia garrison on Saturday destroyed 10 railway wagons and 15 vehicles. They also engaged enemy troops withdrawing in Sirajganj and Phulcharighat.
Extending mopping up of the Pakistani regulars and Razakars who have donned civilian clothes to escape from Bangladesh have started in full swing in all the liberated areas.
Our troops ended the last resistance at Hili and Dinajpur by destroying the armor and capturing a large amount of arms and ammunition. Goraghat south west of Palasbari which held out for some fell to the liberation forces on Sunday. Govindgunj 17 km south of Palasbari was liberated by the Mukti Bahini.
With the liberation of Goraghat and govindgunj. the 120 km road from Hili to Gaibandha is now completely cleared of Pakistani troops.