Page 212 - Lohgarh

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and what to talk of shedding a tear from his eyes, he continued having
a smile on his face. 40
All this was carried out in the presence of Ibrahim-Ud-Din (Mir
Aatish) and Sarbrah Khan (Kotwal). 41 The Emperor had ordered that
these parts of Banda Singh’s body should be hung from the trees; but,
as, by then, it had grown dark the government officials left the place.
42
At midnight, Amar Singh Kamboj (of Khemkaran), who was present in
that area, reached there in disguise and collected all the parts of the
dead body of Banda Singh in the red turban (that Banda Singh was
wearing) 43 and took them to the village Dhotay-Da-Tanda (pargana
Jammu) and presented them before Sahib Kaur, the wife of Banda Singh,
who cremated it there. 44
Giani Gian Singh writes that Banda Singh was dragged behind an
elephant for one whole day and in the evening, considering him dead;
his body was thrown on the banks of river Yamuna so that crows and
dogs should eat his dead body; but, a Faqir, who was passing through
that area, picked up his body and saved him. According to Giani Gian
Singh, after his recovery, Banda Singh went to Kashmir and spent the
rest of his life there. Giani Gian Singh writes that Banda Singh died a
‘natural’ death in 1741. 45
The rest of the companions of Banda Singh were killed the next day
46
(according to Sewa Singh they too were killed on the same day). These
included Gulab Singh Bakhshi, Bhagwant Singh, Baj Singh, Kuir Singh,
Sham Singh (four Bangeshari brothers), Nahar Singh, Sher Singh, Albel
Singh (all the three were the sons of Baj Singh), Ram Singh Parmar (son
of Bachitar Singh and grandson of Bhai Mani Singh), Aali Singh, Mali
Singh (both from Salaudi village), Rai Singh Hazuri (a nephew of Bhai
Mati Das) etc. For details, see: Guru De Sher by Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer.

Banda Singh And The Sikh Prisoners’ Statements
When Banda Singh was brought to Delhi, he made some statements
which have been recorded by the Muslim writers of the day. According
to Khafi Khan, when Mohammed Amin Khan asked him: “What
compelled you to undertake this war?”, Banda Singh replied: “When