Delhi, Nov. 22. The Indian Government has categorically denied Pakistan claims that two Indian brigades and an armoured regiment were repulsed when they attempted to move across the Bengal border near Jessore yesterday. A spokesman for the Defence Ministry described the Pakistan statement as mere propaganda. “Our troops are under strict instructions not to cross the border”, he said. The Indian claimed that four Pakistan Sabre aircraft intruded into Indian airspace over West Bengal this afternoon but were repelled by Indian Gnats. The spokesman said that the Gnats had fired on the Sabres which remained over Indian territory for a few minutes. The Indian fire was ineffective.

The spokesman acknowledged that the number of clashes on the border was on the increase and that the situation remained tense and dangerous. Officials confirmed reports that eight Indians, including a major and other personnel belonging to the paramilitary border security force, were killed yesterday when Pakistan artillery fired on the border town of Karimganj in southern Assam. The spokesman for the Ministry of Defence alleged that Pakistan patrols and artillery units had fired across the border on innumerable occasions during the past four days. In many cases the Indians had returned fire. An unspecified number of Indian civilians were killed and wounded in villages.

According to Indian reports, sporadic border clashes are now spreading from Agartala to the Assam border, Cooch Behar in North Bengal, and Dinajpur in West Bengal. Asked whether the East Bengal guerrillas had launched any large-scale action in the Jessore sector, where the Pakistanis say two Indian brigades were repulsed, Indian officials said that they had no knowledge of the situation in East Pakistan. One official did, however, hint that the guerrillas might have acquired tanks which could have possibly been used against the Pakistanis yesterday.

It is obvious that there has been fighting near Jessore but it is impossible to determine its nature because the Indian Government has banned foreign journalists from the border districts. However, the Indian press reported this morning that the East Bengal guerrillas had launched a big offensive against the Pakistan Army in border areas east of the Indian town of Krishnagar. The guerrillas claim that several small border towns were liberated.