NEW DELHI. April 8 (Reuters)—The Press Trust of India said Pakistan military forces launched a three‐pronged attack today to establish control in the western region of East Pakistan.

The Press Trust reported bitter fighting at several points near the Indian border.

It said the independence forces had halted an army column in the northern part of the province and that a battle raged there during the day. It also reported fighting at Chuadanga, 10 miles from the border.

The press agency said that the Pakistani armed forces had attacked areas surrounding Jessore, Kushtia and Dinjapur by land, sea and air. The agency was quoting reports reaching the Indian border town of Kirshnagar in West Bengal.

Quoting other reports from across the border, the agency said the liberation army of East Pakistanis appeared to be gaining the upper hand in several parts of the province's eastern region.