Operation Jackpot

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{{For|the 1983–1986 South Carolina drug investigation|Operation Jackpot (drug investigation)}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Operation Jackpot
| width = 370px
| partof = [[Bangladesh Liberation War]]
| image = Bansec71.PNG
| image_size = 250px
| alt =
| caption = Map of Operation Jackpot, Indian Supply network for Mukti Bahini.
| date = 25 April—15 August 1971<ref>Islam, Major Rafiqul, ''A Tale of Millions'', p. 211, {{ISBN|984-412-033-0}}</ref>
| place = [[East Pakistan]]
| coordinates = 
| map_type =
| map_relief =
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| territory =
| result = *Operational success of the [[Mukti Bahini]] Naval Commandos
*Tactical failure by the [[Pakistan Navy]] 15 August - 16 Dec. 1971
*Success of Indian Army supply operation 15 May - 16 Dec. 1971
*Indian Army [[IV Corps (India)|IV Corps]] Operational Success 2 Dec. - 16 Dec. 1971
| status =
| combatants_header = Leaders and Commanders
| combatant1 = {{flagicon|Bangladesh|1971}} [[Provisional Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh|Bangladesh]]
| combatant2 = {{PAK}}
| combatant3 =
| commander1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Mukti Bahini-DeFacto.svg}} [[Colonel|Col.]] [[M. A. G. Osmani|M. A. G Osmani]] {{flagicon|Bangladesh}}Major Rafiqul Islam<ref name="Jacob p. 90">Jacob, Lt. Gen. J. F. R., ''Surrender at Dacca: Birth of a Nation'', p. 90, {{ISBN|984-401-322-4}}</ref> * Lt. Col. Khaled Musharraf * Major M. A Jalil * Submariner Abdul Wahed Chowdhury * Submariner Ahsanullah * Submariner Badiul Alam * Lt.Com.Shahed Ali Khan * Submariner Shahjahan {{flagicon image|Flag of the Mukti Bahini-DeFacto.svg}} {{small|[[#Naval commandos killed in Operation Jackpot|Mukti Bahini Sector 10]]}}
| commander2 = {{flagdeco|Pakistan|army}} [[Lieutenant-General|Lt-Gen.]] [[A. A. K. Niazi]] {{small|(Cdr. of [[Eastern Command (Pakistan)|Eastern Command]])}} {{flagdeco|Pakistan|army}} [[Major-General|Maj-Gen.]] [[Khadim Hussain Raja|Khadim Hussain]] {{small|([[General officer commanding|GOC]] [[Structure of the Pakistan Army|14th Infantry Division]])}} {{flagdeco|Pakistan|army}} [[Major-General|Maj-Gen.]] [[Rao Farman Ali|R. Farman Ali]] {{small|([[Military adviser|Mil-Adv.]] [[East Pakistan Police]])}} [[File:Naval Jack of Pakistan.svg|20px]] [[Rear-Admiral|R-Adm]] [[Mohammad Shariff]] {{small|([[Flag Officer Commanding|FOC]] of [[Eastern Command (Pakistan)|Eastern Command]])}} [[File:Naval Jack of Pakistan.svg|20px]] [[Captain (naval)|Capt.]] [[Ahmad Zamir]] {{small|([[Commanding officer|CO]], [[Pakistan Marines|Pakistan Marines Corps East]])}}
{{small|[[Special Service Group#Battalions in the Special Forces|1st Cmdo Btn. (''Yaldram'')]], [[Special Service Group|SSG]]}}
*{{small|[[Special Service Group#Battalions in the Special Forces|2nd Cmdo Btn. (''Rahbar'')]], [[Special Service Group|SSG]]}}
[[File:Naval Jack of Pakistan.svg|20px]] [[Pakistan Navy]]
*{{small|[[Special Service Group (Navy)#Navy SEAL Teams in Special Service Group (Navy)|SEAL Team 1 (''Alpha'')]], [[Special Service Group (Navy)|SSG(N)]]}}
*{{small|[[Special Service Group (Navy)#Navy SEAL Teams in Special Service Group (Navy)|SEAL Team 2 (''Bravo'')]], [[Special Service Group (Navy)|SSG(N)]]}}
*{{small|[[Pakistan Marines#Marines bases, camps, and battalions|1st Marines Battalion]]}}
| commander3 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Mukti Bahini-DeFacto.svg}} Lt. Col [[Ziaur Rahman]] {{small|([[Commanding officer|CO]], Z Force Brigade)}} {{flagicon image|Flag of the Mukti Bahini-DeFacto.svg}} Lt. Col [[Khaled Mosharraf]] {{small|([[Commanding officer|CO]], K Force Brigade)}} {{flagicon image|Flag of the Mukti Bahini-DeFacto.svg}} Lt. Col [[K M Shafiullah]] {{small|([[Commanding officer|CO]], K Force Brigade)}} {{flagicon|Bangladesh}}Major Rafiqul Islam<ref name="Jacob p. 90">Jacob, Lt. Gen. J. F. R., ''Surrender at Dacca: Birth of a Nation'', p. 90, {{ISBN|984-401-322-4}}</ref> * Major A.T.M Haider * Major C. R. Dutta * Major Mir Shawkat Ali
| units1 = {{flagdeco|India|army}} [[Indian Army]]
*{{small|[[IV Corps (India)|IV Corps]]}}
**{{small|8 Mountain Division}}
**{{small|23 Mountain Division}}
**{{small|57 Mountain Division}}
----
{{flagicon image|Flag of the Mukti Bahini-DeFacto.svg}} [[Mukti Bahini]]
*{{small|[[List of sectors in Bangladesh Liberation War|Sector 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Z Force Brigade, K Force Brigade, S Force Brigade]]}}
| commander4 = {{flagdeco|Pakistan|army}} [[Major-General|Maj-Gen.]] Abdul Majid {{small|([[General officer commanding|GOC]] [[Structure of the Pakistan Army|14th Infantry Division]])}} {{flagdeco|Pakistan|army}} [[Major-General|Maj-Gen.]] Abdur {{small|([[General officer commanding|GOC]] [[Structure of the Pakistan Army|39th Ad Hoc Division]])}} [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brig.]] Ataullah {{small|(CO, 93rd Independent Brigade)}} [[File:Naval Jack of Pakistan.svg|20px]] [[Captain (naval)|Capt.]] [[Ahmad Zamir]] {{small|([[Commanding officer|CO]], [[Pakistan Marines|Pakistan Marines Corps East]])}}
| units2 = {{flagdeco|Pakistan|army}} [[Pakistan Army]]
*{{small|[[Structure of the Pakistan Army|14th Infantry Division]]}}
*{{small|[[Structure of the Pakistan Army|39th Ad Hoc Division]]}}
*{{small|[[Structure of the Pakistan Army|93rd Independent Infantry]]}}
[[File:Naval Jack of Pakistan.svg|20px]] [[Pakistan Navy]]
*{{small|[[Pakistan Marines#Marines bases, camps, and battalions|1st Marines Battalion]]}}
----
[[East Pakistan Civil Armed Force]]
*{{small|6 Sector HQ wings, 17 operational Wings<ref>Jacob, Lt. Gen. J. F. R., ''Surrender At Dacca: The Birth of A Nation'', p. 190, {{ISBN|984-05-1395-8}}</ref>}}
| units3 =
| strength1 =
| strength2 =
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| casualties1 =
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| notes =
| campaignbox =
}}
{{Campaignbox Indo-Pakistani War of 1971}}
{{Campaignbox Indo-Pakistani Wars}}
The '''Operation Jackpot''' was a codename for three operations undertaken by Bengali ''[[Mukti Bahini]]'' in former [[East Pakistan]] (now [[Bangladesh]]) against the [[Pakistan|Federation of Pakistan]] during the climax of the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]].<ref name="Dacca p 90">''Surrender at Dacca: Birth of A Nation'', Jacob, Lt. Gen. J. F. R., p. 90</ref><ref name="bp">{{cite web | url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Operation_Jackpot | title=Operation Jackpot | publisher=[[Banglapedia]] | access-date=27 July 2022}}</ref>

After Pakistan Army drove the Bengali resistance across the Indian border at the conclusion of [[Operation Searchlight]], Indian Army implemented a supply and training operation for the Mukti Bahini from 15 May 1971, with the goal of sending ever increasing number of trained fighters to attack Pakistani forces and sabotage military and economic assets to demoralize the Pakistani soldiers and disrupt their supply network. This enterprise was dubbed "Operation Jackpot".

The ''Mukti Bahini'' Naval Commandos launched several [[Sabotage|sabotage efforts]] in the cities of [[Chittagong]], [[Chandpur Sadar Upazila|Chandpur]], [[Mongla Upazila|Mongla]], and the [[Narayanganj District]] against the operating combined forces of the [[Pakistan Army|Pakistan Soldiers]], [[Pakistan Marines]], [[Special Service Group (Navy)#Navy SEAL Teams in Special Service Group (Navy)|Pakistan Navy SEAL Teams]], and the [[East Pakistan Police|East Pakistan Security Forces]] on the night of 15 August 1971.<ref name="Dacca p 90"/><ref name="bp"/> Bengali Submariners who had defected from Pakistani submarine [[PNS Mangro (S133)]], then based in [[Toulon]] in France, led the attacks, and this is also known as Operation Jackpot.<ref name="Millions, Islam p 265">''A Tale of Millions'', Islam, Major Rafiqul Bir Uttam, p. 265</ref> Pakistani military initiated countermeasures to improve security by increasing the [[Cordon and search|door-to-door]] clearance and the applied counterinsurgency tactics by the [[Special Service Group|Army Special Forces]] and the Navy SEAL Teams, but this failed to curb the Mukti Bahini activity.<ref name="War, Shafiullah p. 211">''Bangladesh at War'', Shafiullah, Maj. Gen. K. M. Bir Uttam, p. 211</ref>

The third operation was the operational plan designed by Lt. Gen Sagat Singh, commander of the Indian Army [[IV Corps (India)|IV Corps]] attached to the [[Eastern Command (India)|Eastern Command]] and the Bangladesh forces operating in his operational area against the Pakistani forces in Sylhet, Comilla and Chittagong as part of the overall campaign during 21 November – 16 December 1971.<ref>Shafiullah, Major General K.M. Bir Uttam., Bangladesh at War, p 211 {{ISBN|9-844-01322-4}}</ref>

== Background ==
{{Main|India and state-sponsored terrorism}}
After the postponing of the session [[National Assembly of Pakistan|National Assembly]] of Pakistan, the [[Commander in Chief (Pakistan Army)|High Command]] was authorised by the [[President Yahya Khan|Yahya administration]] to launch the military operation (codename: [[Operation Searchlight|''Searchlight'']] and [[Operation Barisal|''Barisal'']]) in March 1971 in a view of curbing political opposition instigated by the [[Awami League]]– which had won majority in the 1970 elections and would have formed next civilian government of Pakistan had the army not intervened.<ref name="bp" /> The Pakistani Armed Forces launched Operation Searchlight on 25 March 1971 in a bid to take control of East Pakistan and subdue all resistance (political or otherwise) against the West Pakistani authorities. By mid of May, the Pakistan Authorities in East Pakistan, with the crucial support provided by the [[Pakistani military]], had been in control of maintaining the writ of government in major areas of [[East Pakistan|East]], and the [[Mukti Bahini]], under attack from Pakistan Air force and armed military units, started to retreat across the border into India.<ref name="Dacca p. 36/37">''Surrender at Dacca: Birth of A Nation'', Jacob, Lt. Gen. J. F. R., p. 36/37</ref> By the middle of June, Pakistani army had driven the remnants of Bengali army and Para-military units, who had been supported by the civilians, across the border into India.<ref>Salik, Brigadier Siddiq, Witness to Surrender, p 90 {{ISBN|984-05-1373-7}} </ref> The Mukti Bahini, formed around the defecting Bengali soldiers with civilian volunteers, started a guerrilla campaign.<ref>Islam, Major. Rafiqul Bir Uttam., A Tale of Millions, p 214 {{ISBN|9-844-12033-0}}</ref>

===Prelude===
The [[Central Government of India|central government]] in [[India]] decided to open its [[India-East Pakistan border|Eastern border]] with [[East Pakistan|East-Pakistan]] on 27 March, and started to admit millions of [[East Bengali refugees|Bengali refugees]] and political dissidents into India, housing them in specialized camps.<ref>''Surrender at Dacca: Birth of A Nation'', Jacob, Lt. Gen. J. F. R., p. 42</ref> After the crackdown, [[Tajuddin Ahmad]] met with Indian Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] on 3 April 1971 and asked for all possible aid,<ref>Hasan, Moyeedul, ''Muldhara 1971'', pp. 11–14</ref> by which time the Indian government had already opened East Pakistan border and the BSF was offering aid to the Bengali resistance. The Bangladesh [[government in exile]] was formed by the Awami League leadership on 17 April at Meherpur in Kushtia, which confirmed Col. Osmani as commander of Mukti Bahini (regular armed forces and insurgents) under the authority of Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad.<ref name="Millions, Islam p 217">''A Tale of Millions'', Islam, Major Rafiqul Bir Uttam, p. 217</ref> Since March 1971, the local supply of weapons and ammunition were initially overseen by the India's [[Border Security Force]] (BSF) and BSF had even made disorganized incursions in Bangladesh, with little success.<ref name="Dacca p. 36/37"/> On 15 May Indian Army Eastern Command took over the task of training and supplying the Mukthi Bahini, this was aided by the support teams of BSF.<ref>Islam, Major. Rafiqul Bir Uttam., A Tale of Millions, p 211 {{ISBN|9-844-12033-0}}</ref>

[[Indian Army]] dubbed the operation to support Mukti Bahini "Operation Jackpot", setting up a coordinated enterprise under the [[Eastern Command (India)|Eastern Command]] for meeting the material support, logistical, and training needs, and to some extent, lend operational support and planning advice.<ref>''A Tale of Millions'', Islam, Major Rafiqul Bir Uttam, p. 211</ref><ref name="Dacca p 90"/> At the operational stage at the Indian Army's Headquarters in [[New Delhi]], [[Major general (United Kingdom)|Maj. Gen.]] Onkar Singh Kalkat oversaw the operation for two months before the operational command was assumed by Maj. Gen. B. N. 'Jimmy' Sarcar.<ref name="War, Shafiullah p. 159">''Bangladesh at War'', Shafiullah, Maj. Gen. K. M. Bir Uttam, p. 159</ref>

===The operational setup and execution of plan===

The border areas around East Pakistan was divided into six logistical sectors, each to be commanded by a brigadier from the Indian Army.<ref name="War, Shafiullah p. 159"/>

The Indian logistical sectors for this operation were:
* Alpha (HQ: Murti Camp, [[West Bengal]]), C.O. Brig. B. C. Joshi.
* Bravo (HQ: [[Rajgaunj]], West Bengal), C.O. Brig. Prem Singh.
* Charlie (HQ: [[Chakulia]], Bihar), C.O. Brig. N. A. Salik.
* Delta (HQ: Devta Mura, [[Tripura]]), C.O. Brig. Sabeg Singh.
* Echo (HQ: [[Masimpur]], Assam), C.O. Brig. M. B. Wadh, co-ordinating logistics.
* Foxtrot, (HQ: [[Tura, India|Tura]], Meghalaya), C.O. Brig. [[Sant Singh]].

Through this network, Mukti Bahini forces communicated with the Mukti Bahini Headquarters Exiled in Kolkata and coordinated all supply, training and operational efforts for the war. [[Jagjit Singh Aurora|Lt. Gen. J. S. Aurora]], commander of Eastern Command, was overseeing the entire operation.

===Effectiveness and importance===

At the beginning of stage of the ''Jackpot'', the operation proved to be a significant one since the ''Mukti Bahini'' had engaged in series of [[Insurgency|insurgent attacks]], political assassinations, and sabotage in all over the East-Pakistan that it debunked the Yahya administration's claims of maintaining the law enforcement and stability in [[Eastern Pakistan|Eastern region]] as the insurgency picked up its importance when the international press publicizing the political events in East.<ref name="bp" /> The Indian Army's [[Directorate of Military Intelligence (India)|Directorate of Military Intelligence]] (DMI) was well aware of the [[Special Service Group (Navy)#SEAL Teams in the Navy Special Service Group|Navy SEALs]] and the [[Pakistan Army Special Forces|Army Special Forces]], therefore planned a careful operation with the Mukti Bahini Leadership to launch a series of attacks to [[sabotage]] the civil and military infrastructure, inflict casualties on Pakistani forces and demoralize Pakistan armed forces personnel the before the Indian Army officially engaged both the [[Pakistan Army]] and [[Pakistan Navy]] in Eastern Pakistan.<ref name="bp" />

Despite limitations and challenges rising from the state of the Indian transport network, availability of supplies, differences of opinion of guerrilla training methods and the decision of Bangladesh government to train the maximum number of guerrillas in the shortest possible time,<ref name="Jacob p 174">Jacob, Lt. Gen J.F.R., Surrender at Dhaka: Birth of A Nation, p 174 {{ISBN|81-7304-189-X}} </ref> which may have caused supply shortages and often arming of only 40% to 50% of the newly trained guerrillas with firearms,<ref>Islam, Major Rafiqul Bir Uttam, A Tale of Millions, p 288 {{ISBN|9-844-12033-0}}</ref> Bangladesh government in exile managed to field 30,000 regular troops and 100,000 guerrillas and run a campaign that would destroy or damage at least 231 bridges, 122 railway lines, 90 electric stations,<ref>Salik, Brigadier Siddiq, Witness to Surrender, p 104 {{ISBN|984-05-1373-7}} </ref> disrupting the logistical/supply system of the Pakistani forces, and kill at least 237 officers, 136 JCOs and 3,559 soldiers of the regular army during April to November 1971,<ref name="Salik, Brigadier Siddiq p 118">Salik, Brigadier Siddiq, Witness to Surrender, p 118 {{ISBN|984-05-1373-7}} </ref> and an unspecified number of Police, West Pakistan Rangers, EPCAF and Razakar members. The guerrilla operations had also lowered the morale of the Pakistani army and by November, they chose to remain in their bases whenever possible,<ref name="Salik, Brigadier Siddiq p 118"/><ref name="Surrender, Salik p 101">''Witness To Surrender'', Salik, Brigadier Siddiq, p. 101</ref> and the contribution of the guerrilla warfare to the final victory was enormous despite the challenges.<ref name="Jacob p 174"/>

==Background: Naval Commandos==
At the conclusion of Operation Searchlight and Operation [[Barisal]], the Pakistan Army and Navy had driven the Mukti Bahini into India, where they entered a period of reorganization during June and July 1971 to train guerrillas, set up networks and [[safe house]]s in the occupied territories to run the insurgency and rebuild the conventional forces. Col. M. a. G. Osmani divided the country into 11 sectors, while planning to send 2,000–5,000 guerrillas inside Bangladesh every month with 3/4 weeks training to hit all targets of opportunity, while build up the regular force to seize territory in [[Sylhet]],<ref>Jacob, Lt. Gen. J. F. R., ''Surrender at Dacca, Birth of A Nation'', pp. 43–44</ref><ref>Hasan, Moyeedul, ''Muldhara'' 71, pp. 53–55</ref> Indian officials suggested fielding a force of 8,000 guerrillas with regular troops in leadership position with three or four-month's training.<ref>Jacob, Lt. Gen. J. F. R., ''Surrender at Dacca, Birth of A Nation'', p. 93</ref> The solution was to activate the hitherto inactive Sector No. 10<ref>Shafiullah, Maj. Gen. K. M., ''Bangladesh at War'', pp. 162–163</ref> as a special sector for naval commandos with Col. Osmani in charge from 13 May onwards,<ref name="Rahman pp47">Rahman, Md. Khalilur, ''Muktijuddhay Nou-Abhijan'', p. 47</ref> and this Naval commando force was to be trained as per the Indian suggestion, acting as an elite force for attacking riverine and seabourne targets.

Col. Osmani's initial strategy of sending 2,000–5,000 guerrillas inside Bangladesh every month since July and hitting the border outposts<ref>Islam, Maj. Rafiqul, ''A Tale of Millions'' p. 297</ref> with regular battalions had not yielded expected results for various reasons,<ref>Islam, Maj. Rafiqul, ''A Tale of Millions'' pp. 274, 292, 297</ref> and Pakistani commanders were confident that they have contained the "Monsoon" offensive of Mukti Bahini.<ref>Ali, Maj. Gen. Rao Farman, ''When Pakistan Got Divided'', p. 100</ref><ref>Niazi, Lt. Gen. A. A. K., ''The Betryal of East Pakistan'', p. 96</ref> As the pace of military operations in Bangladesh slacked off, the civilian morale was adversely affected,<ref>''A Tale of Millions'', Islam, Major Rafiqul Bir Uttam, p. 292</ref> which prompted East-Pakistan administrative authorities to claim that the situation had returned to "normal". In response to this declaration, the Mukti Bahini launched 2 operations: (1) Guerrilla attacks in targets in Dhaka by a crack commando group trained by Major ATM Haider (ex-[[Special Services Group|SSG]] commando), and (2) the simultaneous mining and damaging of ships in [[Chittagong]], [[Chandpur District|Chandpur]], [[Port of Mongla|Mongla]] and [[Narayanganj]] on 15 August, which became known in Bangladesh and international media as "Operation Jackpot".

==''Mukti Bahini'' riverine activity==
Bangladesh is crisscrossed by hundreds of rivers in addition to 300 large navigable canals. The river transport is important because of the poor state of the road network, especially during the monsoon, when the whole country turns into a morass of mud and many areas are only reachable only through water transport.<ref>Ali, Maj. Gen. Rao Farman, ''When Pakistan Got Divided'', pp. 114–119</ref> The movement and logistics of Pakistan army largely depended on their control of the inland waterways, and of the Sea ports. Mukti Bahini did not operate a separate naval wing during March–June 1971. River craft were requisitioned as needed. The Pakistan Navy and Air Force sank one such craft, MV ''Ostrich'', during Operation Barisal on 26 April,{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}} while Pakistani gunboats sank 3 boats commanded by Mukti Bahini on 5 May 1971, at Gabura.<ref>Islam, Major Rafiqul PSc, ''Muktijuddher Itihas'', p. 244, {{ISBN|984-437-086-8}}</ref>

===Pakistan naval preparations===
The importance of waterways was not lost on Pakistan Eastern Command. After the launch of Operation Searchlight and the successful conclusion of [[Operation Barisal]], General A. O. Mittha (Quarter Master General of Pakistan Army) had recommended the creation of a port operating battalion for Chittagong, in addition to separate River Transport and River Marine Battalion to operate an augmented Cargo and Tanker flotilla.<ref>Niazi, Lt. Gen. A. A. K., ''The Betrayal of East Pakistan'', p. 84, {{ISBN|984-8080-24-4}}</ref> These steps were not implemented, the Army commandeered civilian water crafts for logistics and posted Army and Razakar personnel to guard various ferries, bridges, ports and other naval installations. Pakistan Navy established a Marine Academy in June 1971 to support riverine operations.<ref name="Pns Qasim">[http://www.paknavy.gov.pk/QASIM.htm Pns Qasim] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060704062828/http://www.paknavy.gov.pk/qasim.htm |date=4 July 2006 }}</ref>

Rear Admiral Mohammad Shariff had only 4 gunboats (PNS ''Comilla'', ''Rajshahi'', ''Jessore'' and ''Sylhet'') and a patrol boat (PNS ''Balaghat'') in East Pakistan, while the navy remodeled 17 civilian ships into gunboats by adding 12.7/20 mm guns, and .30/.50 caliber Browning machine guns.<ref>Salik, Brig. Siddiq, ''Witness to Surrender'', p. 130, {{ISBN|984-05-1373-7}}</ref> These boats joined the fleet by August 1971, while several other boats had been fitted with 40X60 mm Bofors guns and .50 calibre machine guns in [[Khulna]] and Chittagong dockyards to serve as patrol boats.<ref name="Rahman p66">Rahman, Md. Khalilur, ''Muktijuddhay Nou-Abhijan'', p. 66, {{ISBN|984-465-449-1}}</ref> A few hundred officers and 2,000 crewmen were posted in East Pakistan in 1971. 300 Bengali seamen were transferred to West Pakistan as a precaution after 25 March 1971, while [[Special Service Group Navy]] (SSGN) teams were posted in East Pakistan under Commander David Felix.

===Naval Commando Training and preparations===
[[File:NavalCommando 71.PNG|thumb|325px|right|A graphical representation of Bengali Naval Commando activities against Shipping in East Pakistan in 1971. A generic representation, not all geographic features are shown.]]

The river transport system was vital for economic activity given the primitive state of the road and railways system of East Pakistan. Major Jalil, Colonel [[M. A. G. Osmani]] and Indian Commander Bhattachariya in collaboration with top regional commanders established the secret camp, codenamed ''C2P'', in [[Plassey]], West Bengal on 23 May to train volunteers selected from various Mukti Bahini sectors (Bangladesh was divided in 11 operational sectors for Mukti Bahini operations) for this purpose. Initially 300 volunteers were chosen,<ref>''A Tale of Millions'', Islam, Major Rafiqul Bir Uttam, p. 265–68</ref> ultimately 499 commandos were trained in the camp. The training course included swimming, survival training, using [[limpet mine]]s, hand-to-hand combat and navigation. By August 1971, the first batch of commandos were ready for operation. The Camp Commander at C2P was Commander M. N. Samanth, Training Coordinator was Lt. Commander G. Martis, both from the Indian Navy, while 20 Indian instructors along with the 8 Bengali submariners became trainers.<ref name="Rahman pp47"/> Pakistani Intelligence agents scouted the camp in June and July but Indian security measures prevented any harm to the camp and apprehended all infiltrators.<ref name="Rahman p66"/>

The Bangladesh naval commando operation that was called "Operation Jackpot" was precipitated by events in [[Toulon]], a coastal city of southern France. The operation was planned to take on Naval Special Service Group of the Pakistani Navy, after it had conducted several other operations. In 1971, there were 11 East Pakistan naval submarine crewmen receiving training there aboard a Pakistani submarine. One commissioned officer (Mosharraf Hassain) and 8 crewmen decided to take control of the submarine and to fight against Pakistan. Their plan was disclosed, however, causing them to flee from death threats made by Pakistan's Naval Intelligence. Out of the 9 crewmen, one made his way to London, the others managed to travel to the Indian Embassy in [[Geneva]], Switzerland. From Geneva, embassy officials took them to New Delhi on 9 April, where they began a program of top secret naval training at C2P.

The operation was planned in the last week of July, under tight security. Information on river tides, weather and East Pakistani naval infrastructure and deployment was collected through the Mukti Bahini. Selected commandos were sent from C2P to forward bases in Tripura and West Bengal, where a final briefing was given to them. Mukti Bahini in Sector No. 1 assisted the group going to Chittagong, Sector No. 2 aided the groups going to [[Chandpur District|Chandpur]] and [[Narayanganj]] and Sector No. 9 assisted the group targeting Mongla. Each commando carried a pair of fins, a knife, a limpet mine, and swimming trunks. Some had compasses, 1 in 3 commandos had Sten guns and hand grenades, the group leaders carried a transistor radio. All the groups carried their own equipment to their targets and after entering Bangladesh between 3 and 9 August, reached their destinations by 12 August, using the local Mukti Bahini network of safehouses. A pair of songs was played in India Radio (Akashbani) at specific times to convey the intended signal for commencing the operations.<ref>''A Tale of Millions'', Islam, Major Rafiqul Bir Uttam, p. 263–65</ref> The first song ({{transl|bn|Amar putul ajke prothom jabe shoshur bari}}) was played on 13 August, the second song ({{transl|bn|Ami tomay joto shuniyechilem gan tar bodole chaini kono dan}})<ref>''Muktijudhdher Rachana Shomogra'', Mahmud, Sezan, p. 61.</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Pinaki Biswas|first=Guerrilla Juddhe Rabindranath|title=Rabindranath Hatya Shorojantra (Bengali)|publisher=Lalmati Prakashan|year=2021|isbn=978-81-953129-3-1|location=Kolkata|pages=82}}</ref> on 14 August. The result of this operation was:
* '''Chittagong:''' Sixty commandos were divided into 3 groups of 20 each, but one group failed to arrive due to Pakistani security on time. Out of 40 commandos, 9 refused to take part,<ref>Rahman, Md. Khalilur, ''Muktijuddhay Nou-Abhijan'', p. 79, {{ISBN|984-465-449-1}}</ref> while 31 commandos mined 10 ships instead of 22 initially planned<ref>Shafique Ullah, Col. Md, ''Muktijuddhay Nou-Commando'', p. 27</ref> on 16 August{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}. Between 1:45 and 2:15 am, explosions sank the MV Al-Abbas, the MV Hormuz and the Orient barge no. 6, sinking 19,000 tons of arms and ammunition along with damaging/sinking 7 other barges/ships.
* '''Chandpur:''' 20 commandos were sent to mine ships at Chandpur.<ref>Rahman, Md. Khalilur, ''Muktijuddhay Nou-Abhijan'', p. 165, {{ISBN|984-465-449-1}}</ref> Two commandos ultimately refused to take part, the other 18 divided into 6 groups and mined 4 ships.<ref>Rahman, Md. Khalilur, ''Muktijuddhay Nou-Abhijan'', p. 168, {{ISBN|984-465-449-1}}</ref> 3 steamers/barges were damaged or sunk.
* '''Narayanganj:''' 20 commandos conducted the sabotage operation. Four ships were sunk or damaged.
* '''Mongla:''' 60 commandos went to Mongla port. This team was divided into 5 groups of 12 members each. Ultimately 48 commandos mined 6 ships at Mongla. Twelve commandos had been sent on a separate mission.<ref>Rahman, Md. Khalilur, ''Muktijuddhay Nou-Abhijan'', p. 114, {{ISBN|984-465-449-1}}</ref><ref name="Untold heroism of Mukti Bahini Forgmen">{{cite book|last= Roy|first= Mihir K|title= War in the Indian Ocean|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tqr8r7EB18wC&q=khusru|year= 1995|publisher= Lancer Publisher & Distributor|location=New-Delhi|isbn= 1-897829-11-6|pages= 298}}</ref>

The simultaneous attacks on Pakistan naval shipping assets on 16 August destroyed the myth of normalcy in East Pakistan when the news was flashed in the international media. Pakistan Army investigation concluded that no one had imagined Mukti Bahini capable of conducting such an operation.<ref>Islam, Major Rafiqul PSc, ''Muktijuddher Itihas'', p. 550, {{ISBN|984-437-086-8}}</ref>

==Assessment of Naval "Operation Jackpot"==
Not all Naval commando missions were met with success. Tightened security prevented any operations in Chittagong after the first week of October,<ref>Rahman, Md. Khalilur, ''Muktijuddhay Nou-Abhijan'', p. 94</ref> while four attempts to damage the Hardinge Bridge failed.<ref>Rahman, Md. Khalilur, ''Muktijuddhay Nou-Abhijan'', pp. 220–223</ref> Some Commando teams were ambushed and prevented from reaching their objectives.<ref>Rahman, Md. Khalilur, ''Muktijuddhay Nou-Abhijan'', pp. 122, 196–198, 217</ref> Misfortune and miscalculation caused some missions to fail.<ref>Rahman, Md. Khalilur, ''Muktijuddhay Nou-Abhijan'', p. 84, p. 119, p. 201</ref> Security measures prevented any sabotage attempts on the oil depots at Narayanganj, Bogra, Faridpur and Chittagong, and Mukti Bahini managed to damage the oil depots at Chittagong and Naryanganj using an Alouette Helicopters and a Twin Otter plane on 2 December 1971.

In total, 515 commandos received training at C2P. Eight commandos were killed, 34 wounded and 15 captured during August–December 1971.<ref>Rahman, Md. Khalilur, ''Muktijuddhay Nou-Abhijan'', pp. 268–270, {{ISBN|984-465-449-1}}</ref> Naval commandos managed to sink or damage 126 ships/coasters/ferries during that time span, while one source confirms at least 65 vessels of various types (15 Pakistani ships, 11 coasters, 7 gunboats, 11 barges, 2 tankers and 19 river craft by November 1971).<ref>Jacob, Lt. Gen. J. F. R., ''Surrender at Dacca'', p. 91</ref> had been sunk between August–November 1971. At least 100,000 tons of shipping was sunk or crippled, jetties and wharves were disabled and channels blocked, and the commandos kept East Pakistan in a state of siege without having a single vessel<ref>Ray, Vice Admiral Mihir K., ''War in the Indian Ocean'', pp. 141, 174</ref> The operational capability of Pakistan Navy was reduced as a result of Operation Jackpot.

=== Naval commandos killed in Operation Jackpot ===
* Commando Abdur Raquib, who was killed during the Foolchhori Ghat Operation
* Commando Hossain Farid, who was executed during the second Chittagong operation. He was captured by Pakistani army, who tortured him to death by placing him inside a manhole and bending his body until his vertebral column was shattered.
* Commando Khabiruzzaman, who was killed in second operation in Faridpur
* Commando Sirajul Islam, M. Aziz, Aftab Uddin, and Rafiqul Islam, nothing further is known about them.

=== Naval commandos who received Bangladesh 'National Hero Award' Recognition ===
<ref>''Operation Jackpot'', Mahmud, Sezan, mukhobondho</ref>
* A.W. Chowdhury- Bir Uttam
* Badiul Alam- Bir Uttam
* Shah Alam- Bir Uttam
* Mazhar Ullah- Bir Uttam
* Sheikh Md. Amin Ullah- Bir Uttam
* Abedur Rahman- Bir Uttam
* Mosharraf Hossain- Bir Uttam (His honour was revoked by the ruling Government of Bangladesh)
* Mohammad Khabiruzzan- Bir Bikrom
* Momin Ullah Patwari- Bir Protik
* Shahjahan Kabir- Bir Protik
* Faruq-e-Azam- Bir Protik
* Mohammad Rahmatullah-Bir Protik
* Mohammad Mojjamel Hossain- Bir Protik
* Amir Hossain- Bir Protik

==Operation Hot Pants==
After the operation of 16 August, all commandos returned to India. After this no pre-planned simultaneous operation was launched by the Naval Commandos. Instead, some groups were sent to destroy specific targets, and other commandos began to hit targets as opportunity presented itself.

Major Jalil, Commander of Mukti bahini Sector No. 9 had obtained permission from Premier [[Tajuddin Ahmed]] to form a naval unit in August<ref>Mukul, MR Akthar, ''Ami Bejoy Dekhechi'', p. 36</ref> and had requested four gunboats to Commander M. N. Samanth. In October 1971 Kolkata Port Trust donated two patrol crafts (Ajay and Akshay) to Mukti Bahini. The boats underwent a month-long refitting at Khidirpur dockyard at the cost of 3.8 million Indian Rupees<ref>Islam, Maj. Rafiqul, ''A Tale of Millions'' p. 298</ref> to carry two Canadian 40X60 mm Bofors guns and two light engines and eight ground mines, four on each side of the deck in addition to 11 ground mines.<ref>Rahman, Md. Khalilur, ''Muktijuddhay Nou-Abhijan'', p. 227, {{ISBN|984-465-449-1}}</ref> Renamed BNS Padma and Palash, the boats were crewed by 44 Bengali sailors and 12 Naval commandos, the boats were officered by India Navy personnel and handed over to Mukti Bahini on 30 October 1971. Bangladesh Government in Exile State Minister Captain Kamruzzaman was present when the boats were commissioned by Kolkata Port Trust chairman P. K. Sen. Lt. Commander KP Roy and K. Mitra on Indian Navy commanded the boats. The mission for Bangladesh Navy flotilla was:<ref>Islam, Maj. Rafiqul, ''A Tale of Millions'', p. 298</ref>
*Mine the Chalna port entry point
*Attack Pakistani shipping
Escorted by an Indian Navy frigate, on 10 November these boats successfully mined the entrance of Mongla port. They also chased the British ship "The City of St. Albans" away from Mongla on 11 November 1971.<ref>Islam, Maj. Rafiqul, ''A Tale of Millions'', p. 303</ref>

==Indian Army IV corps operation (21 November 1971 – 16 December 1971)==
[[File:Ban71dec.PNG|thumb|300px|Final Indian Army operational plan in November 1971. A generic representation, some unit locations are not shown. Indian IV Corps operation may have been known as "Operation Jackpot".]]

The plan of operation for the Indian Army IV corps (8 Mountain Div., 23 Mountain Div., 57 Mountain Div. and "Kilo Force") may have been codenamed "Operation Jackpot". The opposition forces included the Pakistani 14th Infantry division defending [[Sylhet]], [[Maulavibazar|Maulaviabazar]] and [[Akhaura Upazila|Akhaura]], the 39th ad hoc division in [[Comilla]], [[Laksham]] and [[Feni District|Feni]] and the 97th independent infantry brigade stationed in Chittagong. Indian army had seized salients in the Eastern border from 21 November 1971. After [[Pakistan]] launched air attacks on India on 3 December, the Indian army crossed the border into Bangladesh. By the end of the war on 16 December 1971, the Indian army had isolated and surrounded the remnants of the 14th division in Sylhet and Bhairabbazar, the 39th division was cornered in Comilla and Chittagong, with all other areas of Sylhet, Comilla, Noakhali and Chittagong clear of enemy forces. Part of the corps had crossed the Meghna river using the "[[Meghna Heli Bridge]]" and using local boats to drive towards Dhaka when the Pakistani army surrendered.

==See also==
* [[Timeline of the Bangladesh Liberation War]]
* [[Military plans of the Bangladesh Liberation War]]
* [[Mitro Bahini order of battle]]
* [[Pakistan Army order of battle, December 1971]]
* [[Evolution of Pakistan Eastern Command plan]]
* [[1971 Bangladesh genocide]]
* [[Persecution of Biharis in Bangladesh]]
* [[Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources and further reading==
* {{cite book | title = Witness to Surrender | year = 1977 | author = Salik, Brigadier Siddiq | isbn = 984-05-1373-7 }}
* {{cite book | title = Surrender at Dacca: The Birth of A Nation | year = 2003 | author = Jacob, Lt. Gen. J. F. R. | publisher = The University Press Limited | isbn = 984-05-1395-8 }}
* {{cite book | title = A Tale of Millions | year = 2006 | author = Islam, Major Rafiqul | publisher = Ananna Publishers | isbn = 984-412-033-0 }}
* {{cite book | title = Bangladesh at War | year = 2005 | author = Shafiullah, Maj. Gen. K. M. | isbn = 984-401-322-4 }}
* {{cite book | title = Muktijuddhay Nou-Abhijan | year = 2006 | author = Rahman, Khalilur | isbn = 984-465-449-1 }}
* {{cite book | title = Ami Bijoy Dekhechi | year = 2005 | author = Mukul, M. R. Akther | publisher = Sagar Publisher's|oclc=416393761}}
* {{cite book | title = The Betrayal of East Pakistan | year = 1998 | author = Niazi, Lt. Gen A. A. K | publisher = Oxford University Press | isbn = 0-19-577727-1 }} Bengali Translation: Samudro Prakashana, 2003 {{ISBN|984-8080-24-4}}
* {{cite book | title = Memories of Lt. Gen. Gul Hassan Khan | year = 1978 | author = Hassan Khan, Lt. Gen. Gul | publisher = Oxford University Press | isbn = 0-19-547329-9 }} Bengali Translation: 'Pakistan Jokhon Bhanglo' University Press Ltd. 1996 {{ISBN|984-05-0156-9}}
* {{cite book | title = How Pakistan Got Divided | year = 1992 | author = Ali Khan, Maj. Gen Rao Farman | publisher = Jung Publishers }} Bengali Translation: 'Bangladesher Janmo' University Press Ltd. 2003 {{ISBN|984-05-0157-7}}
* Ayub, Muhammad (2005). An army, Its Role and Rule: A History of the Pakistan Army from Independence to Kargil, 1947–1999. RoseDog Books. {{ISBN|9780805995947}}

==External links==
* [http://www.defencejournal.com/2002/dec/demons.htm Demons of December—Road from East Pakistan to Bangladesh]
* [http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Mukti_Bahini Mukti Bahini]

{{Bangladesh liberation}}
{{1971 Indo-Pak War}}

{{Military of Pakistan}}

[[Category:Bangladesh Liberation War|Jackpot]]
[[Category:Naval operations involving Pakistan|Jackpot]]
[[Category:Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
[[Category:Battles of Indo-Pakistani wars|Jackpot]]
[[Category:Indian Navy]]
[[Category:Pakistan Navy]]
[[Category:Pakistan Marines]]
[[Category:Naval aviation operations and battles|Jackpot]]
[[Category:Naval history of India]]
[[Category:Naval history of Pakistan]]
[[Category:1971 in India]]
[[Category:1971 in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Naval battles of Indo-Pakistani wars|Jackpot]]
[[Category:Battles of the Bangladesh Liberation War|Jackpot]]
[[Category:August 1971 events in Asia]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1971|Jackpot]]

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Operation Jackpot