A factory official insists that the plant will be in operation again within a week. But much of the office furniture stands piled on railway carriages. The managers, he tells a questioner, have decided to move their office to the district capital of Sylhet about 22 miles away.
The official doubts this move will have any effect on the workers confidence, but an army Major is not pleased. “This is very bad. You must stay here,” the Major says. There is an uneasy silence and the conversation returns to details of the battle.
Red Tape Expected
The factory is a government industry, another observer points out. There will be reports of the damage and then there will be surveys and then revisions of the reports and requests for spare parts and finally someone will send for a Canadian or a Japanese expert, he predicts, “It will take at least six months".
About 1000 Mukti Bahini took part in the attack on Chhetak. Pakistani officials say. The guerrillas moved across the border at night and took up positions 011 both sides of the Surma River which divides the town from the factory.
At about eight a.m. 011 October 13 Indian artillery opened up and the guerrillas began to move against the small Pakistani garrison. The battle lasted two full days and into the morning of the third with Pakistani reinforcements arriving from the district capital and artillery being rushed up from rear positions until a force of less than 300 men was able to cross the river under fire and push the guerrillas back into India.
Body counts are no more exact here than elsewhere. Col Sarfraz says more than 250 guerillas were killed. A high-ranking officer puts the figure at more than 150 while a third military source reports that about 100 attackers died. An agree that fewer than 10 Pakistani soldiers were killed.
Pakistani Charges
Calculations from the known range of India's British-made field guns, the Pakistani command is convinced that Indian artillery moved about 1,000 yards into Pakistani territory during the Chhatak baule. They also charge that Indian soldiers moved 5,000 years across the border to direct guerillas movements and provide mortar fire for the attackers.
Local villagers saw the Indians well within Pakistan's territory, the officers say. They believe that India's strategy to use guerrillas at the frontline of assault in attempt to seize and held pockets of Pakistan, if any such attack is successful, the commanders explain. Indian army units will move into tile pocket and once again provide close support for a second guerrilla push deeper into Pakistan.
By staying in the rear and only providing covering fire and logistical help, the Indians avoid being captured or killed and, thus Pakistan cannot exhibit proof of intrusions, tile officers say.
Whether the officers' accusations are true or not, they are a small part of the war on nerves India and Pakistan are conducting along their borders and in their capitals.
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