Department of State

 

TELEGRAM

 

SECRET 832

 

PAGE 01 RAWALP 02518 2814172

52

ACTION NEA 15

INFO GPM 03, SC 01, RSC 01, USIA 12. li 02, NSC M L (13. INR 07,P 04, CIA 04, DOD 01, SP 02, SS 200PR 02, NSAE 00, RSR 01, MM 01. /089 W

R 281210Z DEC 67

FM AMEMBASSY RAWALPINDI

TO AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 877

SECSTATE WASHDC 2837

SECRET RAWALPINDI 2.518

II/W DACCA 1029 3(110830, ACTION RAWALPINDI, INFO KARACHI, LAHORE, CALCUTTA AND PESHAWAR REPEATED FOR UR INFO: QUOTE.

SUBJECT : ABORTIVE COUP-ASSASINATlON PLOD

REF:          DACCA's A-133, DACCA 950, 978, 996, 1000, 1002, 1014, 1015, KARACHI's 1122

 

1. Analysis of accumulated information seems to indicate that a comparatively small number of Bengali civil servants, ex-military officers, military officers, and politicians planned to assassinate President Ayub Khan during his recent visit to East Pakistan and to follow up the assassination with a coup d'etat aimed at establishing an independent state in East Pakistan. GOP security agencies detected plot before conspirators could act and subsequently arrested between 50 and 60 Bengalis. Authorities seem to be attempting to conceal both existence of plot and arrests. Resume of previously reported and recently required information follows.

 

2. Senior member of Chittagong Club stated that in early December several Bengalis met at Chittagong Club to plan assassination of President Ayub during hip planned December 10 visit to Chittagong. Plan apparently called for elimination of Ayub during flight from Dacca to Chittagong on Chartered PIA air craft and involved PIA personnel at Dacca and Chittagong. Special Branch plain clothe men reportedly overheard plotters meeting at Chittagong Club and alerted GOP about plot.

 

3. In pre-dawn hours of December 9 several of conspirators were arrested in Chittagong and Dacca. According to fragmentary newspaper report, among those arrested were M. M. Rameez (PIA Chittagong city) Awami League leaders Syedur Rahman and Biphuti Bhusan (aka Manik Choudhury), and two ex-Pak Navy officers Kamuluddin Ahmed and Sultanuddin Ahmed, both residents of Dacca. Subsequently acquired information from sources who are believed to be well informed indicates that between fifty and sixty Bengalis (according to one source 54) have been arrested in connection with plot. This number reportedly includes five senior civil servants

(CSP's), several ex-military officers, military officers on active duty, and opposition politicians. A heretofore reliable source said that senior Bengali CSP who had recently been named to head an East Pakistan government corporation was involved in plot.

 

4. Subsequently Ayub's visit to Chittagong city cancelled and Ayub was flown to Kaptai (near Chandraghana where he dedicated textile mill) by West Pakistan PAF pilot in military amphibian.

 

5. Several sources said that conspirators planned to follow up assassination with coup d'etat aimed at establishing independent East Pakistan. In this regard, one source who has previously given Consulate General accurate information said an ex­Pakistan Navy Lieutenant Commander was arrested at Barisal with a motor launch load of arms which had 33. smuggled across border from West Bengal.

 

6. Twelve arrested conspirators reportedly have been sent to West Pakistan.

 

7. Several sources indicate President Ayub's composure badly shaken by plot and that he delayed his departure from East Pakistan for one day both to confer with senior government servants and to bring hi, personal aircraft from West Pakistan to fly him to Karachi. Two source, stated that Ayub requested PL. chief Air Marshal Ashgar Khan to pilot aircraft to West Pakistan,

 

GP-3. KILLGORE

UNQUOTE. OEHLERT

 

 

 

Source: The American Papers – Secret and Confidential India.Pakistan.Bangladesh Documents 1965-1973. The University Press Limited. p.243-244.