In Sylhet the enemy had a network of fifth columns through whom they gathered accurate information about our location. It was surprising to note that the information so fed to the enemy was correct upto the minutest detail. This was a great advantage for the enemy, who, inspite of being cut off confined to Shalotikar, could effectively use their long range weapons against us. By now, with the continuous airlifts reaching Shalotikar, the enemy had gathered enough strength. Aziz got worried about the enemy’s increasing strength and he decided to disrupt the airlifts either by destroying the aircrafts or damaging the airstrip.
On April 8, two detachments of MG and 3 inch mortar were sent from the direction of Khadimnagar to the close proximity of the airstrip. This was the time when a PIA Fokker friendship had just landed with fresh troops. The insharge of the detachment, Naik Surat Ali, fired one mortar shell from a hillock. As he was about to fire the second shell an enemy MG burst killed him on the spot. Our own MG returned fire but to no avail. Being under heavy pressure both the detachments fell back. Naik Surat Ali’s dead body could not be extricated. The selection of 3 inch mortar for this type of action at such a close proximity of the enemy was obviously wrong, due to which the mission got miscarried.
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