India spent Rs 33 cr on POWs taken in 1971

Bhopal, Dec 16 (UNI) India spent Rs 33 crore on camps looking after more than 93,000 Bangladeshi prisoners of war who were eventually returned to Pakistan after the 1971 conflict but the latter country still has Indian officers and men in prisons including the Kot Lakpath Jail near Lahore, reiterates Major-General (Retd) S R Sinho.

''In his book, former Pak premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto specifically mentions Kot Lakpath in this context. Why couldn't we ensure the return of our personnel,'' the veteran said at the District Sainik Board (DSB) premises here while addressing former officers of the Indian Armed Forces during a gathering marking today's Vijay Diwas -- the anniversary of the Bangladesh War.

He alleged that Pakistani forces slew 1,000 Bengali intellectuals in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) on December 9 and 10, 1971. The general also touched on the problem of infiltration.

Speaking on the occasion, Air Marshal (Retd) V K Verma, Vayu Sena Medal, reminiseced the then prime minister Indira Gandhi's words while she was visiting Ambala ahead of the conflict. ''Better prepare yourself. War I promise you because the other side is not behaving,'' Ms Gandhi had said.

Air Marshal Verma -- who was then a junior officer -- flew his MiG-21 in darkness over Pakistani territory at a hair-raising height of only 100 feet above ground.

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