The Daily
Morning News
16 NOVEMBER 1971
News headlines and details from the Daily Morning News.
News Headlines:
- Fresh Indian regular troops concentration on border.
- India pursuing wrong policy, say captured soldiers.
- Nurul Amin to head United coalition Party in N.A.
- 2 killed, 54 injured. Comilla shelled again. Comilla shelled again.
- Lust for power basis of UCP, says Niazi.
- 9 boats with 200 Indian agents sunk.
- Japan Bengal group raising funds for DI's in India.
- Minister visits hospital.
- Indira rejects for proposal for meeting with Yahya.
- Dockyard damaged by Bomb explosions.
- Azam endorses Nurul Amin on future PM issue.
- Blast at N'ganj.
- Innocents die for whose benefit?
- Blast kills two German diplomats.
Fresh Indian regular troops concentrated on East Pakistan border are constantly pressing and prodding Pakistan positions, according to reports from border areas, reports APP.
These reports are received from Noakhali, Comilla, Sylhet and Jessore districts. some of these Indian troops, identified so far, belong to Gurkha regiment. Jammu arid Kashmir Rifles and Sikh Regiment.
The Concentration of Gurkha and Sikh troops was reported from Sylhet and Comilla respectively while the Ist Jammu and Kashmir Rifles was seen opposite Jessore border.
In Comilla district, they are concentrated opposite saldanadi and Kasba, in Noakhali opposite Belonia and in Sylhet opposite Baralekha.
Besides the Indian regular troops, several hundred Indian agents equipped with Indian supplied mortars and rocket lunchers are concentrated opposite sunamganj (Syihet), Kasba (Comilla) and Chandpur (Jessore).
The Indian troops and their agents continue prodding Pakistan positions but they are not allowed to make any head way they are reported entrenched on the firing of' the border and try to intrude into Pakistan territory every now and then. Pakistan troops guarding the frontier are keeping a vigilant eye on them and foil their attempts at intrusion.
Indian artillery also continues shelling Pakistan border areas, mostly villages. without any provocation. yesterday they lobbed nearly 2,150 shells in 17 villages killing 19 villagers mostly women and children. The affected villages are mandabagh, Aranga. Barajala, Chuddugram and Fulghazi on the Eastern border, Sripur, Radhanagar. Kamalpur. Nagsi Jagdalhat, Amarkhana, Barakhata and Mughalhat on the norther border. Hili, Chaugacha, Mandra and Meherpur on the Western border.
Indian artillery yesterday shelled Comilla town. without any provocation killing two and injuring 54 innocent persons. Many houses were destroyed.
Among the victims are also women and children.
Indian field guns started shelling the town at 10-
Eighteen persons were wounded at the Chandpur ghat while the remaining victims belong to Khalia Juri.
Lahore. Nov. 15 (PPI) : The Information Secretary of the Pakistan People's Party,
Maulana Kausar Niazi, said here today the PP firmly believed that the present crisis
in the country could be over come only through the co-
Consequently, he said, for the purpose of forming the Government at the centre the
PPP would seek the assistance of like minded elements from the East wing and form
a grand coalition if the newly formed rightist front sought the PPP co-
Criticising some recent statements of Mr. Nurul Amin, Mr. Niazi said, Mr. Nurul Amin, though an old and respectable politician had been "cornered by some unwise friends" from West Pakistan.
Mr. Nurul Amin, he said, had of late raised some, strange issues whose discussion might further complicate the present situation. Efforts were afoot to seek a democratic solution of the crisis and these discussions and press statements would only hinder this process he added.
The PPP Information secretary said Mr. Nurul Amin was a cool and calm politician but his partyman Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, was forcing him to raise some delicate issues as the Nawabzada wanted to avenge himself his defeat at the lands of the PPP.
He declared that the PPP was least afraid of "These fronts". We have see so many
of united front in the past and also their out-
The recent front he said was inspired not by sincerity, but by the lust for power,
and its formula was being prepared by a leader whose party was continuing anti-
It these parties, came to power by some secret Method, we could not hope for Chinese assistance he viewed. The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan had already protested against such propaganda, he pointed out.
Lahore, Nov. 15 : Top Leaders representing seven rightist parties in the country today decided on the formation of a united coalition party in the National Assembly of Pakistan under the leadership of Mr. Nurul Amin and declared that they were resolutely dedicated and determined to preserve the freedom, ideology, integrity and solidarity of Pakistan.
The further resolved that in view of the present grave national crisis, when Pakistan was faced with a planned and perfidious foreign aggression they had decided to unite to achieve and preserve a truly and wholly Islamic system of Government in Pakistan.
The Joint meeting of seven like minded parties which were represented by 23 leaders
drawn mostly from West Pakistan lasted for two and a half hours and discussed more
than two draft declarations. The PDP President Mr. Nurul Amin in whose hotel room
the meeting was held presided. The final declaration was prepared while the meeting
was in session and was signed by Mr. Nurul Amin (PDP), Mian Mumtaz Daultana (CML),
Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan (PML), Malik Mohammad Qasim (Conv. ML), Mian Tut ail Mohammed
(J.I) on behalf of Maulana Maudoodi founder of the Jammat-
The declaration issued today, further said that it was felt as a vital necessity
that largest measure of unity should be immediately achieved amongst like-
Mr. Nurul Amin Leader of the newly formed United Coalition Party has said that they
have not thought of a grand coalition as yet as suggested by Mr. Bhutto but they
had. however, arrived at coalition of like-
Mr. Nurul Amin was talking to Morning News in his hotel room after meeting of leaders
of like-
He said that as far as the Provincial Assemblies arc concerned, although no decision had been taken today in that respect but it was expected that similar arrangements would have to be made for the Provincial Assemblies.
When his attention was drawn to Mr. Bhutto's statement that he was prepared to accept an East Pakistani politician as Prime Minister Provided the President was a politician from West Pakistan. Mr. Nurul Amin replied "I have no objection to that.
Asked to clarify his policy statement which he made while inaugurating tire Pakistan Front in Lahore on Saturday last. Mr. Nurul Amin said that he did not use the word of Prime Minister as had been reported. (A news agency had reported that Mr. Nurul Amin demanded that an East Pakistani should be taken as future Prime Minister of Pakistan) Mr. Nurul Amin said that he had told the Meeting that East Pakistan should be given its full share in the coming political dispensation to save it from a sense of allegation and that there was a great need to understand psychological factors behind East Pakistan's frustration. He said that he had further told Pakistan front meeting that whenever the time of transfer of power came, East Pakistanis were some how deprived of their due Share and in support of his assertion he had quoted the dismissal of Khwaja Nazimuddin from Prime Ministership of Pakistan.
Cleared Al MNAs
Mr. Nurul Amin said that National Assembly members belonging to Awami league who had been duly cleared by the government of Pakistan were very much there but we were not negotiating with them at present. He said that they could not be, however, excluded from the count because they hold the balance of power in the National Assembly, Asked if there was any possibility of contacting them to join the UCP, Mr. Nurul Amin said that the future was still unknown. However he should have to talk to every member of the National Assembly Mr. Nurul Amin said that he has no plans as yet to meet President Yahya Khan for second time during his stay in West Pakistan. However. Mr. Yousuf Ali Choudhury is reaching Lahore on Tuesday and he would get acquainted with the current East Pakistan situation and if it warranted his meeting with President. he would request such a meeting.
Razakars yesterday sank 9 boats carrying Indian agents in Sylhet and Pabna, according to reports reaching Dacca, reports APP.
On hearing that approximately 200 Indian agents were about to cross into Pakistan territory by boats near Zakiganj in Sylhet, 50 Razakars rushed to the area and laid on ambush. As soon as the boats came on this side of the border, Razakars opened fire on them.
The Indian agents returned the fire and tried to land to assault the Razakars but they were not allowed to do so. Most of them got hit in boats while other went down with sinking boats. Some of them managed to cross back into Indian territory. There boats were sink.
Six other boats carrying Indian agents capsized near Tikori in Pabna district as a result of Razakar firing.
Another report said that Razakars saved one rail and one road bridge in Rangpur and Comilla districts yesterday. The rail bridge is located near Trimoni, two miles South of Gaibandha in Rangpur district while the road bridge is near Durgaphr. Eight miles west of Laksham in comilla district.
(By Our Staff Reporter)
Six Indian soldiers who were captured in action on Saturday near Dharmanda ill Kushtia
district told a group of foreign and Pakistani journalists in Dacca yesterday. That
they feel in the present Indo-
sending her troops across the border.
The captured Indian soldiers who belonged to one Naga Battalion of seventh Mountain Brigade which forms a part four mountain divisions were interviewed yesterday by foreign and Pakistani journalists. A large number of arms and a substantial quantity of ammunition used by the Indian troops against Pakistan which were captured were also shown to the newsmen.
The names of the captured soldiers are-
APP adds : The captured Indian soldiers admitted before a group of foreign and local journalists that India had been regularly shelling Pakistani territory and they entered East Pakistan under the cover of shelling.
Naik Tara Datta Joshi who replied to a barrage of questions asked mostly by foreign
correspondents narrated in detail how his battalion entered East Pakistan and after
a two-
Replying to questions mostly in Urdu and broken English, Naik Joshi said that their two companies of first Naga battalion of seven Mountain Brigade entered East Pakistan on 12th night supported by over one hundred members of "Mukti Bahini". At dawn on 13th November, Pakistan Army started firing and their mortar shells landed in their area. Pakistani Armed in a company strength narrowed down their circle and they had no other alternative but to surrender for they knew that they would be killed if they have not surrendered. He told the questioner that twenty soldiers of his company were killed.
When asked as to why they being in two companies strength were overpowered and had to surrender when pitted against Pakistan Army in only one company strength. The captured Indian soldier said that they were surrounded all on a sudden. He said that there was no casualty on the Pakistan side although they fought for two hours with L.M.G. sten guns, rifles and two inch mortars. He said that they were told that the territory has been liberated and there is no Pakistan Army.
Naik Joshi told another foreign correspondent that India was pursuing a wrong policy by sending her troops to Pakistan and meddling in other country's affairs. His feeling was corroborated by other captured soldiers sitting beside him.
When asked as to what specific orders they had before entering East Pakistan. Naik Joshi said that they were ordered to enter and occupy territory and dig up trenches. I He told another questioner that, they were ordered to go to East Pakistan and not Bangladesh.
He told another foreign journalist that had been ordered by their unit not to allow any Pakistani refugees to return to their homes. He, however, said that his company did not conic across any refugee.
To another question. Naik Joshi said that they were being well treated and looked after captured soldiers liked to convey to the members of their families that they were well in Pakistan and hoped to return home soon.
Question "Have you taken part in any other incursions before."
Naik Joshi : No.
Question : Whether Mukti Bahini has its own officers?
Naik Joshi : They have their own officers.
Question : Are the members of the Mukti Bahini educated Or uneducated lot and which
age-
Naik Joshi : "I can't say whether they were educated or illiterate. Their maximum age was 25 years, we had no talk with them."
Question : Whether Pakistani Army was also shelling Indian territory as Indian are doing?
Naik Joshi : Shelling by Pakistan Army is not landing on Indian side. There is no shelling by Pakistan Army.
Question : Who were their escorts, Mukti Bahini or others?
Naik Joshi : "We had escorts of regular Indian troops. No intelligence officers accompanied us.,.
Question : Arc members of Mukti Bahini stationed in Indian cantonments'?
Naik Joshi : No.
Question : Are members of Mukti Bahini in uniform or civilian clothes?
Naik Joshi :They roam about in civilian clothes carrying rifles.
Question : Were you to operate jointly with Mukti Bahini?
Naik Joshi : Yes we had the orders to jointly operate with Mukti Bahini.
Question : What is the ratio of Hindus and Muslims in Mukti Bahini?
Naik Joshi : I don't know.
Earlier, five soldiers of Indian Border Security Force were captured thus bringing the total to 11.
Indian arms and ammunitions seized in Pakistan including mortars, machine guns. sten guns, grenades and explosives were shown to the correspondents.
Tokyo, Nov. 15 (APP) : An organisation called the Japan-
The group also has collected 10 million items of clothing, said Tsyyosmi Nara. Assistant Professor at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. lie said the group’s goal is 1000 million yen including the value of clothing received in the two month campaign.
Members of the Japan-
East Pakistan Minister for Health, Mr. Obaidullah Majumder visited Dacca Medical College Hospital yesterday afternoon, reports APP.
He went round different wards of the Hospital and talked to the patients who received injuries in the bomb explosion at Baitul Mukarram on Thursday.
Earlier. The Superintendent of the Hospital apprised the Minister of various problems of the Hospital. The Minister assured his best attention to solve the problems.
Tunis, Nov. 15 (APP) : A special envoy of President Yahya Khan said yesterday Indian Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi rejected a proposal for a Summit meeting between the two Leaders to settle the East Pakistan dispute.
In an interview with the Tunisian Government newspaper action the special envoy. Ibrahim Khan, said. "Pakistan is prepared to open discussion with India. A meeting between President Yahya Khan and Mrs. Gandhi was already proposed, but the latter rejected the idea."
Ibrahim Khan, a Pakistan delegate to the United Nations and chief executive of the Azad Kashmir, is in Tunis for talks with Tunisian leaders on behalf 'of President Yahya Khan.
Tunisia as most Arab countries generally sympathised with Pakistan in its disputes with India.
Floating dockyard at Sitalakhya river under Siddhirganj police station was damaged in a bomb explosion on Sunday night, according to police sources, reports APP.
At least three bomb exploded near the floating dockyard, police said.
Nobody was injured in the bomb explosion and no arrest was made, police added.
(By Our Staff Reporter)
The Amir of the Jamaat-
In a statement issued yesterday. Prof. Ghulam Azam expressed his confidence that the people of West Pakistan they sincerely want that East Pakistan should continue to be apart of Pakistan. Hence, he noted, for the sake of integrity and solidarity of our beloved state, the people of West Pakistan shall gladly agree to accept an East Pakistani as the next Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The provincial Jammat chief said ii is known to our West Pakistani brethren that East Pakistanis were deprived of their rightful political rights specially during long ten years of the dictatorial regime of Ayub Khan. As a result the nation was faced with the present grave crisis, he observed.
Referring to the PPP chief's recent statements. Prof'. Ghulam Azam said it is really
a matter of great regret that Mr. Bhutto has developed in himself a strange type
of-
Impression
The East Pakistan Jamaat chief said that the six-
I can emphatically say, Prof. Azam observed that President Yahya Khan will not commission Mr. Bhutto to head the next central Government. Because. the Jamaat chief said, if he (President) does so it may create doubt in the mind of the people of East Pakistan that President Yahya Khan and Mr. Bhutto conspired against Sheikh Mujib in order to transfer power to Mr. Bhutto.
Appeal to Bhutto.
Prof Azam appealed to Mr. Bhutto to realise it clearly that his past political role during Ayub regime and his recent political attitude has practically rendered him only a leader of two provinces. He could not at all develop himself as a national leader. There is no reason why the people of East Pakistan should accept him as their leader. Rather his role after the general election has created very Strong sentiment against him in East Pakistan. Any leader of 'West Pakistan may be acceptable to the people of' East Pakistan except. Mr. Bhutto, he observed.
"1 think Mr. Bhutto certainly feels guilty in this respect and that is why he could not visit East Pakistan during the great crisis faced by the people of this wing for last seven months. I fail to understand as to how does he dare to become a national leader with this complex in him.
"1 don't say that Mr. Bhutto shall never develop as a national acceptable to all the provinces. Rather I pray that in near future he may attain the necessary attributes of a national leader."
He hoped the President would not ignore the sentiment of the people of East Pakistan for the sake of the solidarity of the country."
Khairuddin .
Syed Khwaja Khairuddin . President of East Pakistan Muslim league (council) and convenor of central Peace Committee yesterday endorsed the statement of the PDP chief Mr. Nurul Amin that an East Pakistani must head file future Government of Pakistan. reports APP.
The EPCML, President told a Press conference that the country had come to the present position because since 1953 East Pakistanis had no real share in file Governance of the country. This fact had completely frustrated East Pakistanis ultimately resulting in the present crisis he added.
He alleged that this time Mr. Z.A. Bhutto seemed to have taken himself to play the main role in the drama of denying powers to East Pakistanis.
"It will be the most unauspicious day for Pakistan when Mr. Bhutto will be inducted into power as that would be the end of' the integrity. ideology and democracy in this land." he warned.
He said the answer to the present crisis is only one and that is Mr. Nurul Amin has said that Fast Pakistan must have its real share in the future Government. There is no other alternative unless the East Pakistanis feel that they representing 57 percent of the population, have proportionate share in the running the affairs of the state. Otherwise the purpose of creation of Pakistan will be frustrated.
"It is most unfortunate that every time when power was going to be transferred to the people some artificial situation was created to deny transference of power.
A bomb explosion on Sunday shook the Narayanganj Electric supply House and party damaged the wall around its premises, reports PPI.
No one was hurt and no major damage was reported.
A case has been registered with the Narayanganj police and investigation is on.
A senior West German diplomat and a junior officer of the consulate were killed in
a nine explosion at sonargaon about 16 miles South-
The victims were Mr. Rolf Feiland (58), Commercial Attache, Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dacca, and Mr. Erich wrzak (20), Administrative officer of the consulate.
The commercial Attache accompanied by Mr. wozak were going towards Baidyer Bazar,
a police station in Narayanganj sub-
The consul General of West Germany in Dacca identified the bodies of Mr. Roil Feiland and Mr. Erich Wozak who went to Baidyer Bazar on a "private tour," according to the Consulate sources.
Their bodies are expected to be bown to west Germany this afternoon, the consulate sources said.
The Commercial attache who arrived in Dacca nearly eight months ago left behind his widow and two children Mrs. Fieland and her children are now in West Germany.
The Junior administrative officer, Mr. Erich Wozak, arrived here about three months ago.
(By Our Staff Reporter)
The activities of the miscreants and the anti-
The incident at the Bawany school in which 16 innocent children were hurt by a bomb
explosion demonstrated that the miscreants had transgressed all civilised norms.
The parents who saw their children bleeding profusely far no fault of their-
The miscreants who recently exploded a bomb at the busy shopping centre at Baitul
Mukarram where buying reached its peak killed six persons and injured 54 others including
women and children. But alas the miscreants who turned blind and mad in then-
The Shantibagh incident in which four children all brothers and sisters were shot dead by tire bullets of the miscreants is yet another pointer how much heartless and savage a human being can be. This incident has shaken the faith of the people.
Profile of Bengal