Baluchi Soldiers Restive, Confusion
In Pakistani Army Ranks
From Manojit Mitra
AGARTALA, April 25 — Younger elements and Baluchi soldiers of the Pakistani Army have become restive, according to information received here from Dacca today. Confusion has broken out among the Army ranks in some places and the Army finds the going tougher day by day in Bangladesh.
Except for the battle zones, where Armymen have burnt down villages to flush out Mukti Fouji men, looting, arson and brutalities on common people are now being committed mainly by non-Bengali Muslims and Muslim League men. “East Pakistan belongs to us,” Muslim League supporters claim everywhere. But young soldiers and Baluchi troops are refusing to carry out orders for mass killings. Baluchi Soldiers are not stationed at one place for more that a few days because they refuse to burn down mosques or shoot common people.
Initially the Army authorities had given the Impression that it would hardly take a few days to control Bangladesh. But the battle is now a month old. Food supplies are not reaching many contingents of troops. Increasing guerrilla raids by Mukti Fouj men are adding to the Army’s hazards. Several thousand troops have been killed, including a large number of officers.
Dacca is now manned by militia men and Khyber Rifles personnel. But they have to work without pay as a result of which they have resorted to looting regularly. Guerrilla squads of Mukti Fouj are also active in Dacca again. Shamsuzzoah., a prominent member of the Council Muslim League, has been killed by guerrillas. Non-cooperation by citizens is continuing Cinemas and offices have been forcibly opened by the Army authorities but they remain empty. Hardly 10% of Government employees have reported for duty.
The Martial Law authorities are raising an All-Pakistan Rifles to replace the East Pakistan Rifles. The non-Bengali Muslims are being recruited to the corps.
Our Special Representative adds: After a series of raids in different areas in Bangladesh since March 25 the Pakistani Army is believed to have taken into custody about 50 Awami League leaders some of whom are members of the Pakistan National Assembly, according to an Awami League source. They are in the custody of the Army in Dacca and attempts are being made at gun point to force them to issue statements in favour of the Martial Law authorities.
Journalists of several Dacca newspapers were picked up from their residence and are being forced by the Army to bring out their dailies. These journalists are made to stay in their offices under the Army’s supervision. They are stated to be bringing out a two page edition of their respective newspapers every day. Radio and television workers are also being put under similar pressure. According to a Bangladesh Mission spokesman in Calcutta, the Pakistan Army authorities have not been able to gather enough civil servants in Dacca or elsewhere in Bangladesh to run the civil administration in these places or other areas. The Dacca station of Pakistan Radio went on repeating on Sunday the Martial Law authorities order on civil servants to resume their duties.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 26.4.71