East Pakistan Civil Armed Force

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East Pakistan Civil Armed Force
পূর্ব পাকিস্তান বেসামরিক সশস্ত্র বাহিনী
LeaderMaj Gen. Jamshed Khan [1]
Dates of operationApril 1971 — December 1971
Allegiance Pakistan
MotivesTo guard major areas such as Dacca and strongholds of Pakistan security forces
Active regions East Pakistan
Size
  • 15,000 — 18,000 (April 1971) [2] [3]
  • 25,000 (May 1971) [4]
Allies Flag of the Pakistani Army.svg Pakistan Army
Opponents
Battles and wars Bangladesh War of Independence

East Pakistan Civil Armed Force [a] (EPCAF) [5] was a paramilitary force that operated in East Pakistan. [6] [7] [8] [9] It replaced the East Pakistan Rifles and was being used to guard Dacca and Pakistani strongholds, It evolved from East Pakistan Rifles. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]

Contents

History

While Pakistan Army with its collaborators, Razakars and Mujahid Bahini was focused on stopping Mukti Bahini-led resistance, EPCAF was given the duty to establish internal security and to guard strongholds of Pakistani forces. [18] [19] [2] [20] EPCAF was raised in April 1971, [21] EPCAF effectively replaced East Pakistan Rifles due to decisions made by A. A. K. Niazi and Major Gen. Jamshed Khan became the Director General (DG) of EPCAF under his order. [22] East Pakistan Civil Armed Force particularly evolved from East Pakistan Rifles, [10] [11] East Pakistan Civil Armed Force was composed of Bihari Muslims, non-Bengalis of East Pakistan, [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] retired personnel, pro-Pakistan Bengalis [15] and West Pakistani personnel. [23] Initially, EPCAF had about 15 thousand to 18 thousand troops, [2] [3] On May 1971, Its size grew to 25,000, [4] EPCAF was divided into at least 17 wings. [29] Families of members and leaders of East Pakistan Civil Armed Force were promised rewards and benefits. [30]

On 1 September 1971, East Pakistan Civil Armed Force raided Basti Nasirabad, three miles east of Dacca, and killed 9 Indian agents and captured one after a clash between EPCAF and Indian forces, at least 9 rifles, 3 stenguns, 5 shotguns, 39 grenades, several hundred cartridges and 43 mines and high amounts of bombs and explosives were captured. [31]

On 2 September 1971, pro-independence Bengali militants attacked Gazaria Police Station targeting nearby EPCAF and Razakar positions, killing 3 EPCAF troops, 2 Razakars and capturing 11 Razakars and also seizing 15 rifles and 350 rounds of ammunition. [32]

On 12 September 1971, East Pakistan Civil Armed Force and East Pakistan Police launched a raid in Purana Paltan, Dacca and captured 4 rifles, 3 stenguns, 12 grenades and ammunition and clashed with Indian troops in Narayanganj, Dacca, resulting in 1 EPCAF troop being injured and 13 Indian troops being killed in a joint operation. [33]

On December 1971, Indian troops belonging to Border Security Force (BSF) attacked and pounded EPCAF positions in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj. [34]

On 9 December 1971, Indian forces launched a attack on Ashuganj and attacked EPCAF troops. [35]

On 13 December 1971, Indian troops clashed with Pakistani forces and EPCAF in Sylhet, at least 19 EPCAF troops were killed and 10 were captured in the battle. [36]

Deployments

References

  1. ↑ Niazi, A.A.K. (1998). The Betrayal of East Pakistan (PDF). Oxford University Press. pp. 85, 88. ISBN   978-0-19-577727-7.
  2. 1 2 3 Niazi, A.A.K. (1998). The Betrayal of East Pakistan (PDF). Oxford University Press. p. 76. ISBN   978-0-19-577727-7.
  3. 1 2 Niazi, A.A.K. (1998). The Betrayal of East Pakistan (PDF). Oxford University Press. pp. 105, 106. ISBN   978-0-19-577727-7.
  4. 1 2 Singh, Sukhwant (1981). India's Wars Since Independence The Liberation Of Bangladesh. Vikas Publishing House. ISBN   9781935501602.
  5. ↑ "Foreign Relations, 1969-1976". U.S Department of State . Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  6. ↑ Citino, Robert M. (2022). Blitzkrieg to Desert Storm. University Press of Kansas. ISBN   9780700634019.
  7. ↑ Nasim, A. S. M (2002). Bangladesh Fights for Independence. Columbia Prokashani. p. 118.
  8. ↑ Singh, Lachhman (1979). Indian Sword Strikes in East Pakistan. University of Michigan. p. 25. ISBN   9780706907421.
  9. ↑ Haroon, Asif (2005). Roots of 1971 tragedy. Sang-e-Meel Publications. pp. 262, 282. ISBN   9789693516777.
  10. 1 2 Haque, Ashraful (16 December 2020). "'The tiger is dead. The tiger is dead'". The Business Standard . Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  11. 1 2 Choudhury, Ziauddin (16 December 2007). "Remembering December 16, 1971". The Daily Star (Bangladesh) . Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  12. ↑ Rahman, Hasan; Hafizur (2009). বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (সপ্তম খণ্ড). Vol. 7. Hakkani Publishers. p. 18.
  13. ↑ Siddiqi, Abdur; Rahman (2004). East Pakistan The Endgame. Oxford University Press. p. 171. ISBN   9780195799934.
  14. ↑ Fight for Bangladesh. Xilbris US. 2011. p. 65. ISBN   9781456845797.
  15. 1 2 Sodhi, Harinder Singh Sodhi (1980). Operation Windfall and Emergence of Bangladesh. University of Michigan. p. 16.
  16. ↑ Foreign Relations of the United States. U.S Government Printing Office. 1969. p. 460.
  17. ↑ Sainik Samachar. Director of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence. 1972. p. 14.
  18. ↑ Shafiullah, K. M. Bangladesh At War. Accessed 27 April 2025.
  19. ↑ "1971". 5 October 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  20. ↑ Sinh, Ramdhir (18 October 2013). A Talent for War. Vij Books India Private Limited. ISBN   9789382573739.
  21. ↑ Singh, Sukhwant (1981). India's Wars Since Independence The Liberation Of Bangladesh. Vikas Publishing House. ISBN   9781935501602.
  22. ↑ " The Moral Aspect ". Retrieved 26 April 2025. Hamoodur Rahman Commission.
  23. 1 2 Singh, Jagdev (1988). Dismemberment of Pakistan. Lancer International. pp. 61, 184. ISBN   9788170620419.
  24. ↑ "The Pakistanis we forgot". The Express Tribune . 7 June 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  25. ↑ Mannan, Abdul (3 September 2021). "A Bereaved Daughter Seeking Answers". Daily Sun (Bangladesh) . Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  26. ↑ Yousafzal, Zafar Iqbal (January 2022). "SVI Foresight" (PDF). Strategic Vision Institute. p. 21. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  27. ↑ Shehzad, Rizwan (16 December 2021). "Biharis see end to their state of limbo". The Express Tribune . Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  28. ↑ Kaushik Roy, Scott Gates (17 February 2016). Unconventional Warfare in South Asia and Shadow Warriors and Counterinsurgency. Taylor & Francis. p. 117. ISBN   9781317005414.
  29. ↑ Chandar, Udaya (2018). Independent India, All the Seven Wars. Notion Press. ISBN   9781948473224.
  30. ↑ "PAKISTAN: FAMILIES OF ARMED FORCES MEMBERS SIGN UP FOR BENEFITS IN RAWALPINDI (1971)". British Pathe . 29 December 1971. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  31. ↑ "EPCAF party kills 9 Indian agents near Dacca" (PDF). The Morning News. 1 September 1971. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  32. ↑ Alam, Habibul (2006). Brave of Heart. Academic Press and Publishers Library, University of Michigan. p. 333. ISBN   9789840802012.
  33. ↑ "13 Indian agents killed by EPCAF near Narayanganj" (PDF). The Morning News. 14 September 1971. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  34. ↑ "Sultana Zaman: As I saw her during the Liberation War". New Age (Bangladesh) . 22 March 1971. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  35. ↑ "Infantry Chasing Tanks: 27 Brigade in the Battle of Ashuganj". Hilal Publications. December 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  36. ↑ "Battle of Sylhet" (PDF). Gallantry Awards, Government of India . Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  37. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 "Pakistan Army deployment in East Pakistan". Songramer Notebook. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  38. ↑ Jacob (1997). Surrender at Dacca, Birth of a Nation. Manohar Publishers & Distributors, University of Michigan. ISBN   9788173041891.

Notes

  1. ↑ Bengali: পূর্ব পাকিস্তান বেসামরিক সশস্ত্র বাহিনী, romanized: Pūrba pākistāna bēsāmarika saśastra bāhinī
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