Dacca, June 28
Mr Toby Jessel, a member of the British parliamentary delegation that has been visiting East Pakistan, said here today: “I could not put my hand on my heart and tell refugees to come back,”

He was referring to the several million Bengalis? predominantly Hindus, but also Muslims, who have fled into India since last March.

“I am sure it is not safe for Hindus, who may be attacked by the Army, or for anyone who was actively connected with the Awami League [whose leader. Shaikh Mujibur Rahman, is now in prison in West Pakistan] to return.” Mr Jessel said. “But T doubt whether any Bengali is really safe because the Army is trigger happy and arbitrary.”

Tie Pakistan Army regarded it as a military operation and their job was to restore law and order, the MP said. Once that had been done, they thought that people should be able to resume a normal life

“But there is fear in the hearts and minds of the people—partly fear of the Army, which is continuing to sack villages, and partly fear of one another because there has been a great deal of brutal behaviour between Biharis and Bengalis.”

Mr Jessel, Conservative MP for Twickenham, said he thought the Army might have got out of control at “company and battalion level”. The unnecessary sackings of villages, particularly in border areas, seemed to suggest this.

It was important, in his view, to establish. from, what level the Army’s orders had come.

The British delegation led by Mr Arthur Bottomley (Labour. Middlesbrough, E) arrived here on Thursday and is expected to leave East Pakistan today. The other members are Reginald Prentice (Labour, East Ham. N), and Mr James Ramsden (Conservative, Harrogate).

Their trip has been financed by the House of Commons and not by the Pakistan Government as in the case of an earlier visit by three British MPs who came away with a notably favourable impression of the situation here.

In a television interview recorded this morning the members of the delegation all spoke of the need to remove the causes of fear and uncertainty that made refugees reluctant to return to their homes.