Mitro Bahini order of battle-Cedar Herald Index

The Indian Army had no standby force ready in 1971 with the specific task of attacking East Pakistan, one of the many reasons why India did not immediately intervene after Pakistan launched Operation Searchlight in March 1971. Indian Army's Eastern Command was tasked with defending the northern and eastern borders and fighting the insurgencies in Nagaland, Mizoram and Naxalites in West Bengal at that time.

Mukti Bahini, aided by the Indian army through Operation Jackpot, led the struggle against the Pakistan Army while the Indian Army readied for intervention. General M. A. G. Osmani, Commander-in-Chief Bangladesh Forces, had divided Mukti Bahini forces into 11 geographical sectors for command and control purpose. Mukti Bahini forces numbered 30,000 regular soldiers (including 3 brigades containing 8 infantry battalions and 3 artillery batteries) and at least 100,000 guerrillas by December 1971.

Mitro Bahini order of battle

The Indian Army Eastern Command assembled two existing infantry corps, the IV Corps and the XXXIII Corps, for operations in Bangladesh, and created a new corps (II Corps) besides reorganising the 101 Communication Zone as a combat formation. On 21 November 1971, the Indian and Bangladesh forces were put under a joint command structure India Bangladesh force in the eastern theatre, led by Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora, and this force came to be known as Mitro Bahini. In addition to 29 battalions of the Border Security Force (BSF), Mukti Bahini guerrillas operating near the border or awaiting deployment in camps inside India were organised into infantry companies and attached to various Indian formations.

Mitro Bahini order of battle

Indian Army Eastern Command

HQ: Fort William, Kolkata

GOC-in-C (Indian Army): Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora

COS: Major General JFR Jacob

Director Military Operations: Major General Inderjit Singh Gill, MC

Director Operation Jackpot: Lieutenant General B.N. 'Jimmy' Sirkar

Bangladesh Forces Liaison: Group Captain A.K. Khandkar, HQ: 8, Theater Road, Kolkata

Mitro Bahini order of battle

Units attached to Eastern Command but outside Bangladesh operational area: From IV Corps: 2nd Infantry Division in North eastern border 5th Infantry Division in North eastern border

From XXXIII Corps: 17th Mountain division in Sikkim 27th Mountain division in Kalimpong, North Bengal

Airborne forces attached to Eastern Command: 50th (Independent) Parachute Brigade CO: Brigadier Mathew Thomas 2nd battalion Parachute Regiment (2 Para) (in airborne role) CO: Lieutenant Colonel Kulwant Singh Pannu 7th battalion Parachute Regiment (7 Para) CO: Lieutenant Colonel RP Singh (KIA) 8th battalion Parachute Regiment (8 Para) CO: Lieutenant Colonel Afsir Karim 17 Para Field Regiment CO: Lieutenant Colonel Khanna 60 Para Medical Company CO: Lieutenant Colonel M Kumar

Eastern Command Reserve: 6th Mountain division less brigade HQ: Cooch Bihar GOC: Major General P.C. Reddy 2 Engineer Regiments and bomb disposal group

Bengal Area

GOC: Major General J.P. Chowdhury HQ: Kolkata

1st battalion 3rd Gurkha Rifles (1/3 GR) 11th battalion Bihar Regiment (11 Bihar) 12th battalion Garhwal Rifles (12 Garh Rif) Engineers and bomb disposal units

Western Sector

Area of Operation: Khulna, Jessore, Kushtia and Faridpur districts

II Corps

GOC: Lieutenant General T.N. 'Tappy' Raina HQ: Krishnanagar, West Bengal

50th (Independent) Parachute Brigade – Brig M. Thomas, less 2 Para battalion group in airborne role 8th Mountain Artillery Brigade 58th, 68th and 263rd Engineering Regiments