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Background: The town of Darsana was visited by a Visnews cameraman on Sunday (5 December), just a few hours after Indian troops and conquered it on their drive towards Jessore. Darsana lies just a few miles inside East Pakistan's western boundary with India, and has main road and rail links. Although reporters found little evidence of a heavy battle, Indian Officers reported that 100 Pakistan soldiers and militiamen had been killed in the fighting. The town, which a few months ago had 15,000 inhabitants had been heavily fortified but could not withstand the Indian artillery barrage. Meanwhile, East Pakistani refugees in came near Calcutta have been listening constantly to radio reports of the fighting between the two armies, many uncertain as to how any advance or defeat may eventually affect them. The Indian Army has since taken control of the city of Jessore.

SYNOPSIS: Indian soldiers and vehicles move deeper into East Pakistan, on Sunday, behind forward divisions which had...a few hours earlier...taken over the town of Darsana a few miles from the Indian border.

The town, a strategically important one because of its road and rail connections with the city of Jessore, had been under constant artillery bombardment for several days.

Darsana had been well fortified, but Indian shells had caused considerable damage to local buildings and the railway yards.

A Mukhti Bahini soldier guards the deserted platform while Indian soldiers continues through the town towards Jessore.

Indian officers reported 100 pakistan soldiers and militiamen had been killed in the attack. Reporters and cameramen, however, found only a few bodies by the time they reached the town.

In their flight, Pakistan soldiers had left behind an American Jeep with recoilless rifle and a Chinese machine-gun, which the Indian troops quickly commandeered.

Meanwhile, in camps near Calcutta, East Pakistan refugees have been constantly listening to radio reports of fighting in the war.

Many of the refugees appear bewildered by the reports, and many uncertain as to how any advance or defeat may eventually affect them. Latest reports have confirmed that Indian forces proceeding on from Darsana, later captured Jessore airport and then the city itself, which has been the main Pakistani military headquarters in the western sector of East Pakistan.