Plunder of Kasur — A Response to Brahmin’s Request

According to Bute Shah, a Brahmin woman was taken away by the Afghans of Kasur and was forcibly taken in wed-lock by one of them. Awfully anguished and agonised, the Brahmins of Kasur came to Amritsar and appeared at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, where Dal Khalsa was in conference. The heart-rending story of the Brahmins shook the Sardars including Jai Singh Of Kanhiya, Hakikat Singh, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia of Kapurthala, Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and Bhangi Sardars from head to foot. Their Sikh spirit smarted and they at once marched to Kasur— even as they were advised by some that at this juncture when the Khalsa had not yet fully recovered from the loss they had been made to suffer in February 1762, it would be hazardous to undertake any campaign. Kasur was laid siege to and its forts fell before the onslaught of the Sikhs. The chief of Kasur, Ghulam Muhiy-ud-Din Khan, was also shot dead in the course of fighting. The Brahmin woman was restored to her husband and the Afghans of Kasur were made to pay war indemnity amounting to four lakh rupees. The Sikhs got huge booty from Kasur.

According to Ahmad Shah, the allies plundered the town and the booty including cash, gold and silver utensils, various kinds of pearls and precious stones, very costly silk and peshmina clothes and valuable rings et al. Jai Singh Kanhiya’s share comprised of gold, silver and emeralds and highly studded ornaments which were carried with difficulty by four strong and sturdy persons. Similarly the Ramgarhias also received a rich share of the booty. It is said that most of the booty was buried in the jungle near the village of Begowal.

Jai Singh participated in the battle in which Zain Khan was defeated and killed in January 1764, In 1765 Qazi Nur Muhammad wrote in his Jangnama that Jai Singh Kanhiya had extended his territory upto Narnol lying in the southern parts of Jammu. He worked in collaboration with Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and both of them shared the territory of Batala.

After this, he took Garota, Haripur, Nurpur, Datarpur and Saipah levying tribute from the Rajas of these hill states. He also took Mukerian reducing the Swan rulers of the place to subjection after a desperate struggle and great slaughter.