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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
AllegiancePakistan
MotivesTo guard major areas such as Dacca and strongholds of Pakistan security forces
Active regionsEast Pakistan
Size
  • 15,000 — 18,000 (April 1971)[2][3]
  • 25,000 (May 1971)[4]
AlliesPakistan Pakistan Army
Opponents
Battles and warsBangladesh 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]

History

[edit]

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 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 and non-Bengalis of East Pakistan,[23][24][25][26][27][28] retired personnel and pro-Pakistan Bengalis,[15] 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 atleast 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, atleast 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, atleast 19 EPCAF troops were killed and 10 were captured in the battle.[36]

Deployments

[edit]
  • Dacca Sector (Dacca)
  • Jessore Sector (Jessore)
    • 15 Wing (Jessore-Chaugachha)[37]
  • 4 Wing (Chuadanga)[37]
  • 5 Wing (Khulna-Bagerhat-Barisal)[37]
  • 17 Wing[37]
  • Rajshahi Sector (Rajshahi)[37]
    • 6 Wing (Rajshahi-Chapainawabganj-Rohanpur)[37]
    • 7 Wing (Naogaon-Panitala)[37]
    • 9 Wing (Bogra-Sirajganj)[37]
  • Rangpur Sector (Rangpur)
    • 8 Wing (Dinajpur)[37]
    • 9 Wing (Thakurgaon-Panchagarh)[37]
    • 10 Wing (Rangpur-Lalmonirhat)[37]
  • Comilla Sector (Comilla)
    • 1 Wing (Comilla)[37]
    • 3 Wing (Brahmanbaria)[37]
    • 12 Wing (Comilla)[37]
  • Chittagong Sector
    • 2 Wing (Feni)[37]
    • 11 Wing (Chittagong)[37]
    • 14 Wing (Chittagong-Cox's Bazar)[37][38]

References

[edit]
  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. ^ a b c Niazi, A.A.K. (1998). The Betrayal of East Pakistan (PDF). Oxford University Press. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-19-577727-7.
  3. ^ a b Niazi, A.A.K. (1998). The Betrayal of East Pakistan (PDF). Oxford University Press. pp. 105, 106. ISBN 978-0-19-577727-7.
  4. ^ a b 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. ^ a b Haque, Ashraful (16 December 2020). "'The tiger is dead. The tiger is dead'". The Business Standard. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  11. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "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

[edit]
  1. ^ Bengali: পূর্ব পাকিস্তান বেসামরিক সশস্ত্র বাহিনী, romanized: Pūrba pākistāna bēsāmarika saśastra bāhinī
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