পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (চতুর্দশ খণ্ড).pdf/৯৭৮

946 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ চতুর্দশ খন্ড A significant feature about the fighting in Jessore is that the Indian troops after liberation of the town and the cantonment did not have to face a serious mopping up problem. This was perhaps explained by the hurried retreat made by the Pakistanis essentially to reinforce the defense positions around Dacca. This retreat was covered up by the resistance the enemy offered to the Indian troops for two days and a night. At any rate, it was reported that the Pakistani troops were withdrawing in the direction of Magura. The same picture actually emerged from the fighting around Sylhet town. Eight IAF helicopters dropped Indian troops on this town which took the Pakistanis completely by surprise. Although details of this fighting were not immediately known it appeared that the Pakistani troops gave up considering the hopelessness of the entire situation. If the bulk of the Pakistani forces in this sector was being withdrawn to Dacca the same was the process in the case of Faridpur and Kushtia. Whatever might be the objective of such withdrawal the fact remained that the Indian troops had by a remarkable move cut off Comilla from the Moynamoti cantonment Simultaneously, Comilla town was bypassed and the Indians were heading towards an important road-link between Comilla and Daudkandi possibly to reach the nearest point on Meghna. In another thrust the Indian troops had liberated Maulvi Bazar by advancing from the side of Shamsernagar and were steadily proceeding towards Chandpur, an important riverine port serving Dacca and Sylhet. An Army spokesman explained major and quick thrusts were being maintained all over the eastern sector essentially to keep the enemy guessing all the time. In the Jessore sector, Jhenida, an important communication centre was liberated. This place about 25 miles north of Jessore was quite important from the point of view of Pakistan's defense in this area. The Army spokesman made it quite clear to newsman that in the entire operation the Indian Army had received excellent cooperation from the Mukti Bahini. He made it clear as well that in the overall strategy liberation of important towns was not quite militarily important. The Indian Army was only trying to smash the Pakistani defense wherever possible. Agencies add: "The Pakistanis are on the run and the pace of retreat is quite fast since last night," an official spokesman said in Delhi. Pakistanis virtually acknowledged its deteriorating position in occupied Bangladesh when the official radio said that Jessore had been vacated by its troops. Similar reports have been received from Brahmanbaria. Pakistani forces have abandoned Mongla and evacuated Khulna, according to reports reaching Eastern Naval Command headquarters in Vishakhapatnam. The Navy attack mounted by units and naval aircraft of the eastern fleet resulted in all Pakistani naval craft and army troops leaving these two places. Sylhet town was liberated by the Indian Army at 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday.