Hasnabad, Indian Border, May 25
President Yahya Khan's latest promises that he will hand over power in East Pakistan to repentant members of the Awami League, and that he will take back millions of refugees who have crossed into India, has been received as a cruel joke by homeless Bengalis on the border here.

While President Yahya was issuing his bland assurance in West Pakistan yesterday, I heard his troops machine-gunning down defenceless women and children who were trying to flee to India across the River Ichamati in small boats.

I returned to the border today to speak to some of the survivors and they alleged that an unknown number of people had either been shot by Pakistan troops or drowned when they jumped into the water in panic.

President Yahya stipulation that he is not prepared to receive refugees back if they include "Indian destitutes" seems all the more macabre here in Hasnabad where more than 100,000 of President Yahya's terrified and homeless countrymen are being given shelter and food by the Indian Government in a small town.

After speaking to a cross-section of both Muslim and Hindu refugees, it is only possible to come to the conclusion that the three million homeless and hungry people who have crossed into India will not return to their homes while armed troops continue to terrorise the countryside.

President Yahya's talk of handing over power to the Awami League has already been rejected "with contempt" by the league's spokesman in Calcutta.