INDIA: INTERNATIONAL RELIEF TEAM ENTERS EAST PAKISTAN FOR ONLY 26 HOURS BEFORE BEING SENT BACK BY PAKISTAN TROOPS. (1971)


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Background: An international peace team which crossed into East Pakistan with relief supplies and without visas on Tuesday (17 August) was sent back to India today (Wednesday) by Pakistani troops.

The team of six Britons and two Americans had crossed over only 26 hours earlier as a protest against the Pakistan Government's unwillingness to allow outside agencies to carry out direct relief operations in East Pakistan.

This film, shot by VISNEWS cameraman Durgadas Chatterji, shows the relief team crossing the border into East Pakistan on Tuesday.

999999,SYNOPSIS: An eight-man international relief team which crossed over the border into East Pakistan without visas on Tuesday, has been sent back to India by Pakistani troops. The team, made up of six Britons and two Americans, spent only 26 hours in East Pakistan's Jessore district before being ordered back.

The team--named Operation Omega--was organised in London eight weeks ago, and terms itself as a humanitarian organisation. An information bulletin given to newsmen at the Indian border on Tuesday stressed the team's determination to cross any border to give assistance to suffering people.

The two jeeps which crossed into East Pakistan carried food and medical supplies which were intended to be distributed among the people. Three of the team members were responsible for maintaining contact from the border.

Shortly after the team crossed over, Indian border police detained an alleged Pakistani spy, and led him away for questioning.