Battle of Sirikot (1824)

Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa himself led the charge against the tribesmen in which both sides fought and the Sikh soldiers were compelled to initially retire. After the initial engagement, the ammunition kept under heavy stones which blocked the entrance towards Nara had burst which led to the sardar falling under the stones and laying unconscious through the night which spread a rumor that the Sardar Nalwa had died.[9][10]

However, Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa recovered and attacked the village of Bagra, where every armed man was slain.[11] It was known throughout the area that Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa was alive[12] He sought for reinforcements from Maharaja Ranjit Singh after informing him that he was outnumbered who then marched from Rohtas to Rawalpindi and reached Sirikot through Sarai Kala on 19 October 1824.[13][14] At the arrival of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, chiefs of Sirikot including Muhammad Khan Tarin, Sarbuland Khan of Tanaoli, Shah Muhammad of Mishwani summoned before him and he attacked different points of the Sirikot hills leading the Sikh forces to victory and the dispersal of the insurgents.[15][16]

After staying two nights at Sirikot, Maharaja Ranjit marched on to Tarbela and defeated the Utmanzais of Khabbal and built a fort at Sirikot and garrisoned it with 500 men and took Muhammad Khan Tarin with him as prisoner.[17][18]

In 1825 Bostan Khan Tarin, the nephew of Muhammad Khan Tarin, attempted another uprising in Sirikot hills but Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa returned and quelled the outbreak without much difficulty.[19][20]

To prevent reoccurrence of another uprising, Bostan Khan Tarin along two other Mishwani headmen were killed, Muhammad Khan Tarin was poisoned and the Mishwanis were evicted from Sirikot and forced to live in exile in trans-Indus till 1830 after obtaining permission to return.[21][22]