Mukti Fouz likely to step up offensive
From Our Special Correspondent, NEW DELHI, SEPT, 23 – Now that the monsoon is near its end in East Bengal, the Mukti Bahini is expected to be on the offensive.
This is the opinion of experts following the course of events in East Bengal.
The Mukti Bahini and its guerillas enjoy advantages; (i) the guerillas hide among the people at day and strike at night, (ii) its mobility is greater than that of the Pak Army.
The Mukti Bahini now has three categories in its ranks; (i) well trained battalions from the regular Pak Army, (ii) guerillas who know how to handle weapons and (iii) local voluntears. It is no longer a disorganized band of fighters.
During the past few weeks the Mukti Bahini has killed 30 to 35 men and officers of the Pak Army every day. It is not a mean achievement.
The Mukti Bahini is developing naval and air wings too.
Its naval wing sank six ships in Chittagong and Khulna ports, since then, every ship is guarded by Pak troops and the Pak Navy has ordered a 24-hour vigit by patrol boats.
The entire Pak Army is in a state of nervousness in East Bengal today. It always moves about in company strength and never after sundown.
Of about 220 border posts, Pakistani is now only about 55.
Our Mekliganj correspondent adds: Rangpur town was liberated on Tuesday after heavy fighting. Fiftyone Pak troops and two officers were killed. Others fled from Rangpur Cantonment leaving behind them a huge pile of arms.
Pak troops attacked Lalmonirhat and adjoining villages. Over 30,000 people are reported to be rushing towards India.
PTI adds : A gang of Pakistani Razakars aided and abetted by regular troops raided and looted village Govindpur under Karimganj police station in Cachar district of Assam bordering East Bengal on Monday, according to a delayed official report reaching here today.
The intruders molested some women before returning to East Bengal, the report said.
The Razakars again raided a village on Tuesday afternoon but were ambushed by Mukti Bahini guerillas while returning. One Rezakar was captured.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 24.09.9171