31st March 1971: What was done by Pak Army on that date

Brig. Ansari next attacked the Dampara police line on March 31 with his task force which fell after a sharp firefight. 

3 EPR companies were sent to Dacca to conduct sneak attacks, while the 2nd EBR moved via Kishorgaung and Narshindi to attack Dacca. Maj. Shafiullah canceled this plan on 31 March and joined the forces of Khaled Mosharraf north of Comilla with the 2nd EBR troops. Major Shafiullah deployed his forces as follows: 1 Company each at Narshindi, Ashuganj, Azabpur, Brahmanbaria, Sarail, Taliapara, 2 EBR Hq at Teliapara, and 1 company sent to Shadipur in Sylhet, and 1 to Chittagong to help Major Zia. 

While remaining 12th wing companies imprisoned W. Pakistani personnel of the wing and joined the resistance, some joining Major CR Dutta in Habiganj while others joined Maj. Khaled Musharraf near Comilla. A 31st Punjab company attacked and captured Shamshernagar on March 31 early morning with PAF assistance from the EPR forces. Some EPR troops took up position at Khadimnagar by March 31.

A confused battle erupted around the Jessore, and on March 31 3 companies from the EPR 5th Wing cut off the Jessore – Khulna highway link. Pakistani troops abandoned the city and withdrew to the cantonment on March 31, to the anger of Pakistan Army Eastern HQ. 2 EPR companies coming from Chuadanga got stuck just east of the city and failed to arrive. However, Bengali fighters managed to take up positions with 6 miles of the cantonment and began shelling Pakistani outposts with 3 inch mortars.

Pakistani reinforcements began arriving from Dhaka via C-130 planes and helicopters from April 2. Jessore Airfield was inside the cantonment area and Pakistani troops maintained control of both throughout the operation. A Pakistani column moved towards Kushtia, but was ambushed on April 3 and driven back, although Pakistanis took up positions in the Bihari colony in the city suburbs the same day.

Unable to linkup with the Pakistani detachment at Dinajpur, this column resumed their advance the following morning, advanced slowly through the town. By this time Brig. A.K. Malik had decided to evacuate Dinajpur, but a communication mix up prevented a concerted action between the two groups. The beleaguered Pakistani troops left the town using one avenue while Capt. Fida’s group raced to the Pakistani base to find it empty and fought their way out. The retreat was disorganized and some Pakistani troops were killed in an ambush enroute. EPR troops freed the captured Bengali officers. By March 31 Dinajpur was in Bengali hands.

Other EBR companies stayed in their positions until March 31 in Rangpur.

EPR troops at Thakurgaon began to take up positions north of Saidpur from March 31.

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