Page 192 - Lohgarh

192 w Lohgarh : The World’s Largest Fort

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fight between the Mughals and Sikh forces. The obnoxious smell of
dead human bodies and animals made it a very fouls many place. The
Mughal Emperor, he lost his mind when he came to know about this. 12
We have important news regarding the role of Vanjaras in the fourth
year of Farrukhsiyyar’s rule. The news from the chakla from the Kangra
was submitted to the Emperor that most of the Vanjaras who were
Nanak-worshippers were staying in the taaluqas of Heer Chand and
Daya Dhamma and the zamindars of the khalsamahal (imperial lands).
They acted as spies for the Sikhs rebels and provided them with food
grains, arrows and rifles. If captured, they should be punished and in
this way the movement of the rebels and the supply of food grains for
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them would be restricted. The Emperor issued the necessary orders .
In the wake of Banda Singh’s flight to the hills the imperialist had to
encounter stiff resistance from the Vanjaras. Later it was reported that
the Vanjaras had ravaged a number of villages there.

Baj Singh Separates Himself From Banda Singh

Some writers (Ratan Singh Bhangu and Giani Gian Singh) have
mentioned that Banda Singh and Binod Singh had developed differences
with each other in the Fortress of Gurdas Nangal sometime in April-
December 1715, and, Binod Singh had left the Fortress; but this is not
true; there is no authentic source to prove it. However, there is a clear
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evidence that once Baj Singh did go away from Banda Singh. According
to a report, sent to the Emperor by Anand Rao reporter, Baj Singh, along
with 14 to 15 thousand soldiers, had parted from Banda Singh and
established his camp at Makhowal (Anandpur). He had the support of
the ruler of Bilaspur. Baj Singh attacked several villages and plundered
the mansions of the rich and the affluent Mughal and Pathans of the
area. In spite of the presence of the royal forces in the nearby camps ,
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he would take away money, weapons and cattle. 16 It seems that Baj
Singh had parted from Banda Singh not due to any differences, but in
order to confuse or at least divide the Mughal army into two expeditions.
In the third week of July 1714, the Sikh soldiers put up their camps
in Ardun, Mehluk, and Malkiaat villages (in the lower Shivalik hills). When