Page 102 - Lohgarh

102 w Lohgarh : The World’s Largest Fort

Singh (of Udaipur). These Rajput rulers, had joined the Mughal Emperor
in his campaign against his brother Kam Bakhsh, but had quietly left his
company at Mandsor and returned to their capitals. After returning to
their countries, they had killed the agents of the Mughal Emperor and
declared complete independence.
On 21 August 1709 Bahadur Shah reached Samarda. Here, he issued
orders appointing Mir Abdulla Salam (son of Qazi Kurban) as Kotwal
rd
(police chief) of Lahore. On the 23 of August he appointed Ali Mardan
Khan (Zabardast Khan) as the Governor of Kashmir. The same day he
ordered that the number of the Hindu horsemen in the Mughal army
should be reduced. On 12 October he appointed Altaf Khan as Bakhshi
and Chief Reporter of Lahore Darbar.

Bahadur Shah Receives Reports of Sikh Victories
On 25 February 1710 Bahadur Shah reached Jamrauli town. Here, he
received a letter from Wazir Khan, the Governor of Sarhind, reporting
the victories of the Sikhs in some areas of Punjab. The letter said: “How
shall I narrate the destruction caused by the Khalsa Sikhs in the Sarhind
and the Punjab areas? They have destroyed very affluent Parganas.
Today, I have received news that the pagans of Buria and Sadhaura have
been captured and plundered. The government officials have been killed.
The glorious Afghan families of Dahmala to have been killed.” After
hearing the news, the Emperor wrote a letter to Nizam-UL-Mulk (Prime
Minister) of Delhi to help Wazir Khan in suppressing the Sikhs’ rebellion. 3
On 23 April, Bahadur Shah received a letter from Rustam Khan,
from Lahore, mentioning: “Someone has declared himself Guru and has
begun enrolling men (army) and creating riots.” At this Bahadur Shah
sent orders to the army chiefs of Eimanabad and other areas around
Lahore asking them to join the Governor of Lahore in punishing the
Sikhs. 4
On 5 May 1710, Bahadur Shah reached Ajmer. Here, the
ambassadors of the rulers of Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur presented them
5
before him and offered apologies on behalf of their chiefs. On May the
10 , on the mediation and the request of the prince Jahandar Shah,
th