200 Pak Troops Killed In Pheni
AGARTALA, May 16- À Pakistani column in brigade strength lost 200 men in a two day grim battle for control of the vital Subhanpur bridge in Pheni district linking Comilla and Chittagong in the south-eastern sector, reports PTI.
According to delayed reports available here today the Pakistanis gained possession of the strategic road link on May 14 after an hour’s attack with tanks and heavy artillery on the Mukti Fauj stronghold.
The Mukti Fouj which staged a tactical withdrawal against overwhelming odds lost 38 men in this action. Elsewhere in Bangladesh the Mukti Fouj have inflicted heavy casualties on the Pakistani forces in guerrilla and commando attacks.
The Mukti Fauj commandos attacked a Pakistani Army position in Sat Golaghat and Kurigram in Rangpur district in the north western sector killing 21 Pakistani troops.
Further down the Mukti Fouj guerrillas sniped a Pakistani column at Balaghat in the Rajshahi sector and killed three Pakistanis.
In Barisal, the Mukti Fauj launched a surprise attack on a Pakistani camp and killed a Pakistani camp and killed an officer and five other ranks. The Fouj raided the Pakistani treasuries in the offshore island of Bhola and nearby Gopalganj and took away large sums of money.
The Mukti Fouj was also active in Kalasakti and Rahmatpur areas of Mymensingh district in the northern sector. Commando groups disrupted road communications at several places. They also destroyed a section of the railway line at Baura and Barrel on the Baura Halihanda road.
WOMEN BRUNT Meanwhile the Pakistanis continued the reign of terror and burnt down two villages in Pabna after looting them. In the Gongra area of Kushtia district, three women were assaulted by the Pakistani soldiers who later completely burnt the helpless victims.
In a determined bid to disrupt railway lines and road links in order to stall the Pakistani Army advance the Mukti Fouj demolished 11 railway bridges, two road bridges and 45 kms of railway line in the Kazina area of the Rangpur sector during the past two days.
The Mukti Fouj men used heavy explosives resulting in the deep craters on the railway track. Last night about 500 Mukti Fouj mein raided the Kazina railway station, completely destroying the signal system there. They also killed two Pakistanis who were harassing the evacuees on the international border opposite the Indian village.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 19.05.1971