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Dacca shelled - troops at doorstep.
The enemy capital is surrounded by Indian Army thrusts.

Dec 14, Eastern Sector: The first artillery shells fired by the Indian Army landed in Dacca today for the first time the war began, even as General Manekshaw's message to the Civilian advisor, Maj Gen Rao Farman Ali had sunk in.

General Manekshaw had referred that he would shell Dacca and reduce its garrision if the Pakistanis dont consider the option of surrender. Today the threat had turned out to be reality. The shelling of Dacca had been made possible by the advance of IV Corps troops along the Narsingdi Road.

It is no small news last week as troops of 57 Mountain Division launched a heliborne

operation to cross the massive Meghna River. The last four days have been spent on consolidating the build up and advancing from the main foot hold on the western bank of Meghna, the town of Narsingdi. IV Corps troops were not the only Indian troops in the area. Troops of 101 CZ from the north are also reported making for the outskirts of Dacca. they had been supported by the paradrop of another Battallion of Indian troops near Tangail on Dec 11th. This force is expected to contact the outer defences of Dacca by tommorrow evening.

Dacca is said to have more than 11,000 Pakistani uniformed personnel manning its defences. If the Pakistani leader Lt Gen

Niazi decides to make a stand, he can delay its fall to enable the american 7th fleet reach Bangladesh. The US 7th fleet is already confirmed to be in the Bay of Bengal.

Meanwhile in the Sylhet sector, the Gorkha Troops who had been helidropped on the 9th, and were holding out in an isolated stronghold were finally relieved when troops of 8 Mtn Division had made contact with them.

The link up has significantly relieved the pressure on the Gorkhas and increased it on the Pakistani Brigade now occupying the Sylhet fortress.