Battle of Bannu
In 1832, the Sikh Empire launched an expedition against the small mud fort of Malik Dilasa Khan, whose name was a "terror to the Sikhs"[3] and who had beaten from his mud fort Tara Chand, the bravest Sikh general.[3][4]
Battle of Bannu | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of Afghan-Sikh wars | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Local Pashtuns | Sikh Empire | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Malik Dilasa Khan |
Tara Chand Jai Singh Atariwala † | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
Unknown | 8,000 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Unknown | 300 killed and 500 wounded[2] |
The Battle
Tara Chand had been exploiting the local Pashtun population by charging exorbitant taxes and committing various atrocities.[5] In response, Malik Dilasa Khan, along with other Pashtun tribesmen, rose up against Tara Chand's rule and challenged him to a battle.[6][7]
Malik Dilasa Khan and his followers managed to defeat Tara Chand's forces, leading to Jai Singh Atariwala death and the Pashtuns taking control of the region.
Aftermath
The 8,000 strong Sikh Invading army was repulsed and fled into Punjab.[8] The Pashtuns/Afghans controlled the region until 1840, and the Sikh Empire was unable to obtain taxes from Malik Dilasa khan.[9]
References
- https://www.google.com.pk/books/edition/The_Panjab_Chiefs/Z1UoAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dilasa+khan+defeated&pg=PA237&printsec=frontcover
- https://www.google.com.pk/books/edition/The_Panjab_Chiefs/OVUoAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=dilasa+khan+Tara+chand&pg=PA114&printsec=frontcover
- Griffin, Sir Lepel Henry (1890). The Panjab Chiefs: Historical and Biographical Notices of the Principal Families in the Lahore and Rawalpindi Divisions of the Panjab. Civil and Military Gazette Press. p. 292.
- Chopra, Gulshan Lall (1940). Chiefs and Families of Note in the Punjab. Government Printing. p. 200.
- Journal. 1843. p. 593.
- Asia: Journal of the American Asiatic Association. Asia Publishing Company. 1938. p. 362.
- Rashid, Haroon (2008). History of the Pathans: The Ghurghushti, Beitani and Matti tribes of Pathans. Haroon Rashid.
- Sen, N. B. (1943). Punjab's Eminent Hindus, Being Biographical and Analytical Sketches of Twenty Hindu Ministers, Judges, Politicians. New book society. p. 83.
- Lawrence, Sir Henry Montgomery (2005). Political Diaries of the Agent to the Governor-general, North-West Frontier and Resident at Lahore: From 1st January 1847 to 4th March 1848. Sang-e Meel Publications. p. 341. ISBN 978-969-35-1766-8.