MORE THAN 300,000 PAK. REFUGEES IN INDIA
New Delhi, April 21 (AP)
Officials said about 60,000 East Pakistans crossed into India Wednesday, bringing to 318,000 the number of refugees who have fled their secessionist province since civil war broke out four weeks ago.
There was no end in sight to the continuing stream of refugees seeking shelter in India before the Pakistan army possibly seals the border.
All but 45,000 of the East Pakistanis have crossed into India’s West Bengal state, which adjoins areas of East Pakistan held by the Independence forces of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Rehabilitation minister R.K. Khadilkar told a news conference that the “Indian government has cheerfully assumed the considerable financial effort involved in caring for the refugees) despite India’s own enormous economic problems.”
Khaldilkar said assistance from voluntary relief agencies abroad would be welcome but added that they would have to coordinate their contributions “through existing Indian agencies.”
The minister said that in the past week, “the influx of people from East Bengal (East Pakistan) has suddenly increased evidently becouse of the exterme brutality of Pakistani military operations, the insecurity of life, food scarcity, and panicky conditions which have supervened in East Bengal.”
“By and large, the people who are now coming in this country are in distress,” he added.
Of the refugees who have arrived so far, Khadilkar said 89,634 were staying in 55 relief centers set up in four Indian states bordering East pakistan and the rest were living with relatives and friends in India or were looking after themselves.
Khadilkar said the government was screening the refugees to ensure that “undesirable agents are not foisted by Pakistan on us under the guise of refugees.”
The minister said it was noted that while entire familes had come across the border, many of the men “preferred to return to East Bengal, presumably to continue the freedom fight.”
“Those who stayed back in India comprised mostly women, children and people from the older group,” he said.
Khadilkar said each refugee is given a daily ration of 400 grams of rice, 100 grams of dhal and 300 grams of vegetables.
He added that the Indian army had been asked to pitch 30,000 tents to accommodate the refugees before the summer monsoon begins in a few weeks.
Reference : Indonesian Observer, 22.04.1971