Page 133 - Lohgarh

Mughal Action Against the Sikhs w 133

to put Bhup Parkash in the thorny cage that had been made for Banda
Singh. Mahabat Khan submitted before the Emperor that Bhup Parkash
was innocent and Banda Singh had already sneaked out of the territory
of Nahan. At this the Emperor said ‘if you do not punish him, all the hill
rulers will become Sikhs. You must punish him’. Mahabat Khan again
pleaded that the nails inside are sharp and hard and Bhup Parkash would
die as soon as he put into the cage. Even this could not change the
callous mind of the Emperor and he said ‘in case the Raja dies, he will
surely go to hell’. After this Mahabat Khan did not plead any more, and,
in compliance of the Emperor’s command, he put Bhup Pakash into the
cage, but before that he asked his servants to bend the nails, so that
they might not inflict wounds to Bhup Parkash. 72
Pancholi Jagjiwan Das gives a different story. According to him, when
Bhup Parkash and his Diwan (minister) reached there (before the
Emperor), Khan Khanan asked them, “where is Banda Singh”? At this
the minister said Banda Singh had gone out of their State. Reacting to
this Khan Khanan said that was telling lies and he insulted him. He
(Diwan) was handcuffed, his feet were fettered and an iron belt was
put around his neck and he was put into a cage. Raja Bhup Parkash too
was unarmed and he was interned in a small tent; and, soldiers were
posted to keep a watch on him. Pancholi Jagjiwan Das further says that
Raja Chhatarsaal too had assured Raja Bhup Parkash that he will not be
harmed. But, when Chhatarsaal saw that the Emperor has impressed
Bhup Parkash, he left the camp of the Emperor and returned to his
own country. 73
According to Diwan Bhikhari Das when Raja Nahan reached there
Khan Khanan asked him where is Banda Singh, the Raja said ‘I don’t
know. My Diwan (minister) is a Sikh of the Guru, he might have
knowledge of the Banda Singh’s whereabouts’. At this the minister was
arrested and badly beaten. His survival was in danger. The next day, the
Emperor said, ‘You will find nothing by beating the minister; instead
arrest Raja of Nahan and tell him that if he does not present Banda
Singh, his State will be destroyed.’ 74
On 22 January 1711, when the Emperor was near Sadhaura, a