Pak air, naval action in Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar
NEW DELHI, AUGUST 4 – Chittagong and cox’s bazar were recently bombed by the Pakistan Air Force and shelled by the Navy following stiff resistance to the West Pakistani military by the Bangladesh freedom fighters, the Teheran daily Kayhan International reports quoting “an active member of the Awami League.”says UNI.
The paper’s political correspondent, Mr. Amir Taheri, quoted the Awami League member as saying that fighting had been raging in the north-east area of East Bengal.
He did not name the member, but identified him with the initials “MS”.
The Martial Law administrator, Lt. Gen. Tikka Khan admitted in an interview with Mr. Taheri that the “Law and order situation in East Bengal is far from normal.”
He said the “pockets of resistance are numerous” and “acts of sabotage frequent.” Jute convoys had been attacked on several occasions and “now we send jute to Chittagong with an escort of soldiers.”
Gen Tikka Khan also confirmed the recent bomb attacks in Dacca, including the one against a power plant.
The correspondent noted that the Army was in control of the region, but the political problem remained untouched. “With rampant hatred and suspicion, it is difficult to start a dialogue between the Army and the people.”
He quoted ‘MS’ as saying that even Bengali civil servants who had agreed to cooperate with the Army were still suspects. Hundreds of civil servants had been flown from West Pakistan to East Bengal. They were to keep a watch on Bengali civil servants.
Mr. Taheri quoted a Bihari resident of Dacca, identified as “AA”, as saying: “It no longer matters whether or not East Bengal should remain with West Pakistan. What matters is that East Bengal should remain alive.”
People in several villages around Mainamati cantonment have been asked to evacuate immediately by the Pakistani military authorities, a report from across the border said.
The Mukti Bahini striking Pakistani positions deep in the Eastern sector of Bangladesh in the past five days, disrupted the vital Dacca-Mymensingh rail link and crippled a C-130 transport plane in Sylhet, reliable reports from across the border said today.
The reports, corroborated by Mukti Bahini sources, said the guerillas lying in ambush in the wooded precincts of the Salutikar (Sylhet) airbase hit the Rs. 8.5 crore plane was last flying low about 200 yards from the runway in flames but it was not known if it crashed and disintegrated.
Half of the Sylhet town has been plunged into darkness after guerillas demolished the power line north of the town.
The guerillas inflicted heavy casualties on Pakistani troops in frontal attacks at kamalpur, Bahadurabad Ghat and Dewanganj areas of Mymensingh district between July 31 to August 8.
The entire Tangail subdivision except the town was reported to be “under the thumb” of a guerilla band, led by student leader Siddiqi.
Rail communications were also disrupted between Mymensingh to Kishoreganj to Netrakona and between Sylhet and Chhatak. About seven miles of rail track between Jamalpur and Mymensingh was dismantled by about 1000 locals working overnight on August 2 and thrown into the flooded neighborhood.
In a first ever frontal attack mounted at Kamalpur in July the guerillas killed 40 troops and wounded another 20 in a close hand-to-hand fight. They had virtually overrun fire from their superior adversary.
On the same night the guerrillas launched a major raid on Bahadurabad Ghat and shot up a Pakistani detachment housed in a train at the railway station killing many and making others flee. In the attack the guerillas damaged two railway engines, numerous wagons and passenger coaches and destroyed two electric generators mounted on the train. The Pakistani casualty is reported to be reasonably heavy.
Two nights later on August 2 the same gang of gorillas attacked Dewanganj town, ransacked and flew up the part of the railway station in which troops lived. They destroyed two training centers for Razakars and irregulars and demolished the power house in a sugar mill. Against heavy Pakistani casualties two Mukti Bahini jawans suffered injuries during the operation.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 05.08.1971