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152 w Lohgarh : The World’s Largest Fort

Zamindars of Talwan) on an expedition against the Sikhs. He also ordered
Inam Wali Shah to join Mohammed Amin Khan’s crusade against the
13
th
Sikhs. On the 15 of May 1711, Bahadur Shah sent Abdus Samad Khan
(father of Zakaria Khan) too for chasing the Sikhs. 14
th
On the 18 of May 1711, Bhagwan Das news-reporter sent news
that Banda Singh was present in village Alaab, 7 kos (i.e. About 22 km)
from Beas river. When the royal forces tried to construct an improvised
bridge of boats, the Sikhs showered a volley of arrows on them, hence
they could not succeed in crossing the river.
th
On the 19 of May 1711, Bahadur Shah issued orders to supply 10
guns, 300 arrows, 50 mounds (about 1800 kg) gun powder, seven rifles
and two thousand soldiers to Mohammed Amin Khan. He (Bahadur
Shah) also sent him an amount of one hundred thousand rupees too. 15
Bahadur Shah also allowed Daulat Begh Khan, Saleh Khan and Fatehulla
Khan, to join Mohammed Amin Khan. The same day Sarbrah Khan, Islam
Khan Bahadur, Kulich Mohammed Khan, Ajnabi Khan Bahadur, Bakhshi-
Ul-Mulk and Mirza Shah Niwaz Khan too were sent to chase the Sikhs.

Endnotes
1. The old Bilaspur forms Gobind Sagar Lake and a new town was established
near that site.
2. The Sikh history too is replete with such hagiographic, gossip, fiction. The
major share was contributed by Bhai Santokh Singh and Giani Gian Singh.
3. Bayzid Khan, the son of Sultan Ahmed Khan, had a mansab of one
thousand horses and his nephew Shamas Khan, son of Pir Khan, had a
mansab of five hundred horses. Shamas Khan was the former chief of
Sultanpur. Bahadur Shah had removed him from his office and had reduced
his mansab to four hundred only because he had plundered some
residents of Nakodar. Bahadur Shah had also divested him of his title Khitab
Khani; but, when Shamas Khan defeated the Sikhs at Rahon and Sarhind,
Bahadur Shah re-instated him to his earlier position. The writer of M’asur-
ul-Umra mentions that Shamas Khan had fought against the Sikhs for 22
times. But, it was ill luck of Shamas khan that within one month of his re-
tatement, he, along with his uncle, was killed by the Sikhs.