Background: RAWALPINDI, July 21: A number of persons were killed and many others wounded in Comilla yesterday as a result of the Indian shelling, it was officially stated here today.

The Indian field artillery opened up at 10-45 A.M. East Pakistan time without any provocation. A number of shops in the area caught fire and were completely gutted.

Another APP report from Comilla adds: Mortar shelling from Indian territory bordering Comilla killed a number of people and injured six civilians besides gutting shops and houses.

Yesterday at about 10 hours two-inch mortars fired from Indian territory Tripura bordering Comilla hit houses around Kotwali Police Station and Rajgonj, the busiest shopping centre and market place of the town killing an employee of a bakery by Yusuf School Road and injured five others. There shops caught fire and were completely gutted.

Anandamayee Kalibari was also badly hit.

Kotwali Police Station was heavily pounded. But shells fell on the houses around the police station and damaged public properties and injured a servant.

No, damage, however, was done to the police station building. Mortar shells that hit the house of Abu Naser, only 100 yards east and Feroz Bux's house only 30 yards from the police station, partially damaged their buildings.

Four of the injured persons were let off after first aid and two were admitted into Sadar Hospital, Comilla. Strong resentment is prevailing in the town against this provocative act of India.