[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Mughals (1526–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal) › [Later Mughals (1707–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later) › [Muntakhab al-lubāb](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.muntakhab-al-lubab) › [Muntakhabu-l Lubab, of Khafi Khan (Elliot & Dowson, extracts)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.muntakhab-al-lubab~en-elliot) › 140 # Muntakhab al-lubab 140: The Freebooter Pap Rái. Muntakhabu-l Lubáb, of Kháfí Khán (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 140 - **Language:** English ### The Freebooter Pap Rái. ### [140.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.muntakhab-al-lubab~en-elliot.140.1) \[Text, vol. ii. p. 630.\] The Kází of Warangal and many of the chief men of that country came to Court with grievous complaints of a man named Pap Rái. This infamous man was by birth a toddy-seller. He had a sister, a widow possessing some property. He went to see her, and after four or five days' stay with her, he cast his eyes upon her money and effects. He got some fellows to join him. He then tortured his sister most cruelly, burnt her limbs, and took from her all her money and jewels. He enlisted a lot of footmen, and having made himself a stronghold on the top of a little hill, he began to rob travellers and pillage the neighbourhood. The faujdars and zamindars resolved to make him prisoner; but he got intelligence of their intention, and fled to Venkat Rao, Zamindar of Kolas, and entered his service. After a little while he joined another man in the same service, and they began to plunder on their own account. Venkat Rao seized them and kept them in rigorous confinement. But the Rao's son fell ill, and his wife, as a means of saving her son's life, obtained the release of all the Rao's prisoners. Pap Rai went to the village of Shahpur, in the pargana of Narganda, sarkar of Bhungir, and there joined another noted ruffian named Sarwa. He gathered round him a party of men, and raised a mud fort in a rocky position at Shahpur, which is a place of considerable strength. He then plundered all the country round. \* \* ### [140.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.muntakhab-al-lubab~en-elliot.140.2) The faujdar of pargana Kulpak, which is seven or eight kos from Shahpur, sent Kasim Khan Afghan with a suitable force to apprehend him. \* \* Pap Rai from time to time confronted this force, and, seizing his opportunity, attacked one of the villages of Kulpak; but Kasim Khan fell upon him, killed a number of his men, and put him to flight. He proceeded to another hill of refuge, and Kasim Khan, while following him, was killed by a musket-ball, and his force was then driven back. \* \* Another force besieged him and Sarwa in Shahpur for two months, but he escaped. The fort of Shahpur was then destroyed; but after the withdrawal of the forces, Pap Rai and Sarwa returned, and instead of the old mud fort, built a new one of stone and chunam, which they furnished with cannon and implements of war. \* \* ### [140.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.muntakhab-al-lubab~en-elliot.140.3) Pap Rai now extended his operations, and plundered all the country from fifteen to twenty kos round. \* \* He was attacked by Pur Dil Khan, who, after mortally wounding Sarwa, was himself killed. \* \* Pap Rai increased his forces and materials of war, and now turned his efforts to the reduction of forts. Parties were frequently sent out against him, and he was besieged for two months in Shahpur, but without result. \* \* In Muharram, 1120, he attacked and plundered the flourishing town of Warangal, and killed from twelve to thirteen thousand men, women and children. \* \* He next attacked and was near upon capturing the fort of Bhungir, sixteen kos from Haidarabad, and he plundered the town and petta, \* \* carrying off two or three thousand men and women as prisoners. \* \* Afterwards he built another fort near Tarikanda, four kos from Shahpur, which he furnished with all requirements and a strong garrison. \* \* ### [140.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.muntakhab-al-lubab~en-elliot.140.4) His depredations were so great that the King was petitioned to march against him in person. \* \* Yusuf Khan was appointed to the subadari, and was ordered to suppress this rebel. \* \* Before any force was sent against him, he laid siege to the town of Kulpak, eight kos from Shahpur. \* \* On a force coming up, he was driven with loss to Shahpur. \* \* During a short absence from Shahpur some of his prisoners broke loose and seized upon the fort, \* \* and he had to return and besiege it, but failed to take it, as a detachment came from Kulpak, and fought him. \* \* \* He then fled to Tarikanda, \* \* whither he was pursued. \* \* \* After a siege of nine months, many of his men were induced to desert, \* \* his provisions ran short, \* \* and the petta and part of the works were taken in repeated assaults. \* \* He again fled, and his absence did not become known for two days. He went alone to Hasanabad, a place which he had founded two stages from Tarikanda, where he was betrayed. He was wounded, captured, and executed. His head was sent to Court, and his limbs were exposed over the gate of Haidarabad. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.muntakhab-al-lubab~en-elliot.140](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.muntakhab-al-lubab~en-elliot.140) · Pramāṇa