The civil war in East Pakistan is causing mounting concern in India. The Indian Army Commander-in-Chief, Gen. S. H. F. J. ("Sam") Manekshaw, rushed to Delhi for consultations at the Cabinet level.
India's own crisis ridden State of West Bengal, still chronically unstable and under President's rule direct from Delhi, borders on East Pakistan. There are fears that the wave of Bengali nationalism sweeping through the eastern half of the former State of Bengal may have serious repercussions on the Indian side.
There are about 100,000 Indian soldiers in West Bengal at present. They were stationed there to maintain order during the General and State elections earlier this month. Their presence now could prove vital to Indian security.
There are fears that conflict could spread to West Bengal in two ways. Feelings of solidarity with fellow Bengalis in East Pakistan could be exploited and whipped up by political agitators.
Significantly, the Marxists in West Bengal have already put forward their own version of Sheikh Mujib's now irrelevant "six points" and are demanding greater autonomy from New Delhi.