Page 141 - Lohgarh

Emperor Leads Campaign Against the Sikhs w 141

the crossing.

Battle Between Sikhs and the Mughal Army Near Pasrur

In the last week of May 1711, the Sikh army was present in the hills
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near Pursarur (now Pasrur). On the 30 of May, Mohammed Amin Khan
(Chain Bahadur) and Ghazi Khan (Rustam-i-Jang), who had been specially
deputed by Bahadur Shah to annihilate the Sikh army, received
information about the presence of the Sikhs near Pasrur. 7 They
immediately left for Pasrur and reached there in the evening of the 31 st
of May, covering 30 kos (about 100 km) in less than two days. The next
day a fierce battle was fought between the Mughal army and the Sikhs.
Isa Khan (son of Daulat Muin) too joined the Mughal side. His elephant
was wounded in this battle. The battle continued for a few hours, but,
the Sikhs, realizing that their (Sikhs’) number was too small against the
huge Mughal army. They fled towards the hills in the territory of Raja
Dhruv Dev of Jammu.
When Dhruv Dev came to know about the Sikhs’ entry into his
territory, he sent all his army to attack the Sikhs; Azmatulla Khan, the
chief of Rajauri, too dispatched all his army against the Sikhs. The Sikhs
had no option but to proceed further towards high hills. Another group
of the Sikhs had to fight battles at Kathua and Parol where they suffered
heavy losses. In all these battles about 500 Sikhs lost their lives. A rumour
reached the Mughal court that Banda Singh too had been killed in one
of these battles. At this the Mughal officials began searching the dead
bodies of the Sikhs but they could not find Banda’s body; soon, they
realized that they had got the wrong information.
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The news of this battle reached Bahadur Shah on the 4 of June.
He was so happy at the victory of the Mughal forces that he ordered
the grant of a robe of honour, along with a sword studded with diamonds
and an emblem (with lions and fish signs on it) for Mohammed Amin
Khan. He also awarded a robe of honour to Ghazi Khan along with a
precious sword and an emblem (with horse and fish signs on it). He
also sent both of them a message to see him (Emperor) and receive the
prizes. Bahadur Shah sent awards, including a sword, to Isa Khan too. 8