Short Summary

Dramatic film shot during the closing stages of the Indo-Pakistan war in December has become available in London - three months after it was shot.


EDITORS: BECAUSE OF THE DRAMATIC NATURE??? OF THIS FILM AND ITS NATURAL SOUND TRACK WE HAVE INCLUDED ONLY THE MINIMUM OF COMMENTARY BELOW AND IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE FILM BE SHOWN WITH AS LITTLE VOICE ??? AS POSSIBLE.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Dramatic film shot during the closing stages of the Indo-Pakistan war in December has become available in London - three months after it was shot.

The film was taken by VISNEWS cameraman Sepp Riff as Indian Air Force planes pressed home their attack on Dacca Airfield.

Riff, and other newsmen, were besieged in the city, and seeking to get the film out, he put it aboard the only outgoing aircraft -- the last Pakistan Air Force flight to leave Dacca. It went to Akyab in Burma. The film was addressed to the United States Embassy in Rangoon - but was impounded by officials of the Burmese Government before it reached there.

It's recent history is less certain. It seems the film was passed on by Burmese authorities to the Pakistan Television Service who in turn delivered it to VISNEWS in London.

The film includes the most spectacular pictures to come out of the war including the shooting down of an Indian Air Force Sukhoi bomber.

SYNOPSIS: For those on the ground - a time of terror. As the bombing continued they ran for the shelter of hastily constructs trenches. Not all were local residents - and among those fleeing were women and young children.

The Indian attacks came at a vital moment in the war, signalling as they did the absolute supremacy of Indian air power.