Page 67 - Lohgarh

Banda Singh Bahadur’s Journey from Nanded to Lohgarh w 67

perpetrated atrocities and the so-called miracles did not work. Here, at
Thaska too, the pirs’ drama, their so-called miraculous power, black
magic, occult power was exposed.
When Banda Singh captured the Fort and the town the elite of the
town, headed by Pir Zafar Ali, came to him with leaves of grass in their
mouths (symbolizing that ‘we are your cows’, please don’t kill us). 15
Banda Singh told them, ‘cow may be a sacred animal for the Hindus; it
has nothing to do with Sikhism; but, your apology and surrender is
enough; we shall not harm any innocent person and would punish only
those who have committed crimes against innocent folk’. After hearing
this, the umraa of the town came to Banda Singh with precious gifts.
Banda Singh held his court and tested the credentials of the influential
persons of the city. He listened to the common folk and on the basis of
these investigations; he punished the cruel and evil officials. Having
observed this, the common folk praised the Sikhs for their justice.

Thanesar and Shahbad-Markanda Occupied

After capturing Thaska, Banda Singh marched towards Thanesar (now
Kurukshetra) and occupied it without much effort. From here he
proceeded towards Shahbad, a city on the banks of river Markanda.
When the chief of Shahbad came to know that the Sikhs were coming,
he fled from the city and went to Delhi for his safety. When the Sikh
army reached there, the deputies of the town surrendered without
resistance and handed over the Fort to the Sikhs.

Mustafabad Occupied

By now, most of the Forts in that area had been occupied by the Sikhs;
but a big Fort at Mustafabad was still to be conquered. There were
more than 2500 armed soldiers under the chief of this town. When he
came to know about the march of the Sikh army towards Mustafabad,
he sent two thousand soldiers and two cannons to stop their advance.
When the Hindus, who were accompanying Banda Singh’s army
(who had joined the Sikhs with an intention of plunder and booty only),
learnt about the dispatch of the canons by the Chief of Mustafabad,