Page 177 - Lohgarh

Third Mughal Expedition Against the Sikhs w 177

Banda Singh attacks Nahan

In March 1713, Banda Singh was present in Lohgarh Fort. Here, he got
the information that Bhup Parkash (the ruler of Nahan) had been
released by the Mughal Emperor Farukhsiyar because the former had
agreed to collaborate with the Mughals in their campaign against the
Sikhs. Banda Singh also received the information that Bhup Parkash
actually had begun taking action against the Sikhs. On this, Banda Singh
decided to punish Bhup Parkash. He led an army of 5 to 6 thousand
soldiers to Nahan. When Bhup Parkash got the news of Banda Singh’s
13
march, he fled Nahan and took refuge in high hills. Banda Singh set up
his camp at Nahan. After a couple of days, the rich and the affluent
residents of Nahan approached Banda Singh and offered to pay a heavy
ransom; Banda Singh accepted the money and left Nahan after about a
week. From Nahan, Banda Singh went to Lohgarh. Here, Banda Singh
got the intelligence of a possible Mughal attack on Sadhura, so he sent
one thousand soldiers to defend Sadhaura Fort. 14

Third Mughal Attack on Sadhaura Fort
Since, Banda Singh had received the reports of the plans of the Mughal
army to attack Sadhaura; he strengthened both the Forts. With this the
Sikh soldiers also took control of all the areas between Lohgarh and
Sarhind. Zain-ud-Din, the Faujdar of Sarhind, tried to save his territory
from the attacks of the Sikhs but he could not succeed. His power reigned
supreme only in his Fort.
By April 1713, seven thousand of Mughal soldiers reached near
Sadhaura, but, their generals believed that this force won’t be enough
to fight against the Sikhs. They wrote to the Emperor to send still more
forces. 15
Having made a full preparation, Abdus Samad Khan (the Governor
of Jammu), Zain-Ud-Din Ahmed Khan (the Governor of Sarhind) and
general Inam Khan led a very big force to Sadhaura, on 22 June 1713,
and put siege to the Fort. They set up trenches around the city. 16
According to Irvine, the Fort of Sadhaura had high and thick walls, 17
hence the guns and the cannons of the Mughals were unable to damage