Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Thursday (15 April) was the official New Year for the people of Bengal. But for some ten thousand refugees who have been crossing into the Indian outpost of Sagarpara since the civil war in East Pakistan started, it was a day of mourning for relatives and friends who had reached the camp, only to die of wounds received in their homeland.

The camp of Sagarpara has only one doctor. He works around the clock treating bullet wounds and, in some cases, petrol burns. The doctor told VISNEWS cameraman Bill McConville that Pakistan Government forces had poured petrol over captured Bangla Desh supporters and then set them alight. He claimed that the Government forces had used many inhumane methods against the people of Bengal.

Some supporters of Bangla Desh sang their "national anthem" to a crowd of refugees. But there was no celebration in the camp. Most of the people had little time for anything but treating their wounded relatives.