Page 110 - Lohgarh

110 w Lohgarh : The World’s Largest Fort

read out a letter, saying: “What to talk about the secret treasures of
Sarhind, the bankers have reported that no money has come even from
Doaba. It is only the Khalsa which collects the money and cartloads of
this money are being carried to Dabar (Lohgarh) which they have
established as their capital. On one day, they took (wealth in) three
24
hundred carts. Up to Lahore, there is none who can stop them”. (The
non-Italic text is mine- Author).
On 29 August, Bahadur Shah issued a new order asking the Hindu
officials to shave their beards before appearing in his court; those Hindu
officials, who shaved their beards immediately, were presented with
robes and pearls. 25
By this time, Bahadur Shah was so scared of the Sikhs that he had
only one business in his mind, and, all his actions were centered against
Banda Singh. He would discuss the issue of the Sikhs’ several times a
th
day with his courtiers and others. On the 29 of September, he called
Mahabat Khan (son of Munaim Khan), presented him a robe of honor
and asked him to lead an expedition against the Sikhs. The Emperor
asked him to station himself in Karnal from where Sarhind was not far
away. He also asked Nusrat Khan, Ghulam Nabi Kuli Khan and Sayyad
Hussain Ali Khan as well as the Raja Chhatarsal to join Mahabat Khan,
which they gladly accepted. 26
On 2 October, Bahadur Shah received news that Firoz Khan Mewati
had reached near Karnal on 28 September and he was expected to
27
launch an attack on Sarhind very soon. On 12 October, the Emperor
got the news that Firoz Khan had set up his post at Taravari (about 6 km
from Karnal) and the Sikh ‘swines (pigs)’ had fled away. On 14 October,
Bahadur Shah got the news that a battle had been fought between
Jalal Khan Ruhila and the Sikhs in which 300 royal soldiers and several
Sikhs had been killed. 28
Battle of Rahon

In September-October, 1710, the Sikhs had attacked Rahon and occupied
it. After this the affluent Muslims of the town left their homes, and,
established themselves in a new town which came to be known as