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Manekshaw's message to Farman Ali
"My forces are closing in around Dacca....we will reduce your garrison"

Gen S H F J Manekshaw, COAS of the Indian Army

Dec 13, New Delhi: The Chief of Army Staff, Gen S H F J Manekshaw, asked Maj Gen Rao Farman Ali, Military advisor to the Pakistani Governor in Dacca to surrender in the interest of his own men.

"Otherwise I would be compelled to order the Indian Army now closing in on Dacac to reduce your garrison through use of force"

In a third message beamed to the Pakistani Occupation forces in Bangladesh over All India Radio, Gen Manekshaw told Gen Ali that his garrision was within artillery

range of Indian troops and further resistance was senseless. He reiterated complete protection under the Geneva Convention to surrendering Pakistani Troops.

Gen Manekshaw's message read: 'I have sent you two messages already. But there has been no response from you so far. I wish to repeat that further resistance is senseless and will mean the death of many poor soldiers under your command quite unnecessarily. I reiterate my guarantee of complete protection and just treatment under the Geneva Convention to all military and quasi-military personnel who surrender to my forces.

Neither need you have any apprehensions with regard to the forces of Bangladesh as these are all under the joint operational command and the Government of Bangladesh have issued instructions for the compliance of the Geneva Convention.

My Forces are now closing in around Dacca and your garrisons there are within range of my artillery. I have issued instructions

to all my troops to afford complete protection to foreign nationals and all ethnic minorities."

"It should be the duty of all commanders to prevent the useless shedding of innocent blood and I am therefore, appealing to you once again to cooperate with me in ensuring that this human responsibility is fully discharge by all concerned."

"Should you , however decide to continue to offer resistance, I strongly urge that all civilians and foreign nationals are removed to a safe distance from the area of conflict. For the sake of your own men, I hope you will not compel me to reduce your garrison through use of force"

Gen Manekshaw had addressed the message to Maj Gen Rao Farman Ali most possibly because it is Farman Ali who was believed to have been behind the "Ceasefire - Transfer of Power" proposal raised a couple of days back which was later scuttled by Rawalpindi.