History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c40.33.6

v2.c40.33.6

He appointed Nūr-ullah Beg Khān as the Pay-Master General by dismissing Mir Ja'afar but confirmed Sujan Singh in the *Faujdārī* of Hijli. Mir Ja'afar's brigade was dismissed and the latter retired to Murshidabad where he threw himself on the mercy of Nawāzish Muḥammad Khān, the Nā'ib Nāẓim of Bengal.² 'Alīwardī is said to have defeated the Marathas under Jānujī who rushed upon Murshidabad in the hope of plunder, but was headed back towards Medinipur, followed by the Bengal army. Upon the approach of the monsoon 'Alīwardī returned to cantonment after abandoning his project of re-conquering Orissa. The traitor was further rewarded at this stage of his life by the projected rebellion of Zainuddin Aḥmad Khān, his son-in-law and nephew and the Nā'ib Nāẓim of Bihar and the father of his dearest grandchild Sirāj-ud-daulah, who aspired to the *masnad* of Murshidabad. Zainuddin strengthened his army by appointing the dismissed troops of Shamsher Khān and Sardār Khān. But the result was that he himself was murdered by them and his family kept in confinement. Old Ḥājī Aḥmad, one of the greatest Musalman traitors of the 18th century, was captured together with his women and concubines and murdered after 15 or 16 days. Patna fell into the possession of the Afghans, who gathered a large army of their countrymen. 'Alīwardī had to raise another army and take the field in Bihar in 1749.¹ But the Marathas were on the *qui vive*.