History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c40.43

v2.c40.43

After the defeat of the Afghans, Jānujī had left Bihar and tried to plunder Murshidabad during 'Alīwardī's absence, but his mother's death compelled him to return home, leaving Mīr Ḥabīb with an army of Afghans and Marathas at Medinipur. Raghujī sent his younger son, Bimbājī, to join Mīr Ḥabīb. 'Alīwardī advanced from Murshidabad to Katwa and sent Bahādur 'Alī Khān, the commander of his light artillery to Burdwan with 8,000 horse and foot. When 'Alīwardī reached Burdwan, Bahādur 'Alī was ordered to proceed to Medinipur. On the way the gunners refused to move as their pay was in arrears. The detachment had to be disbanded as 'Alīwardī was not in a position to pay cash. Without a single gun 'Alīwardī advanced upon Medinipur when Mīr Ḥabīb set fire to his own encampment and retired towards Orissa. ’Alīwardī crossed the Kasai without entering Medinipur. There was another skirmish and Mīr Ḥabīb retired towards Katak. ’Alīwardī Khān ordered the generals to follow them. The former encamped in Balasore and learned that Mīr Ḥabīb and Mānājī with their Maratha and Afghan troops had retired towards the Garhjats. ’Alīwardī advanced as far as Bhadrak and Hajipur, about 36 miles from Katak, where he received letters and messengers from Saiyad Nūr, Sarandāz Khān and a Hindu named Dharamdās, three officers of infantry who commanded the garrison of Barabati fort, offering submission. Without paying any attention to them ’Alīwardī tried to pursue the Marathas and Afghans but had to retire on account of the difficulties of the country. He set out with a small army and reached Katak by forced marches. When he reached that city not more than 300 people were able to keep up with him and if the garrison had attacked him at that time he would have succumbed. In the afternoon Saiyad Nūr and Dharamdās paid a visit to him and promised to bring Sarandāz Khān in the morning. When Sarandāz arrived next day, ’Alīwardī, with his usual treachery, fell upon him and captured him after having wounded him mortally. Ghulām Ḥusain relates truthfully that the Maratha garrison of Barabati, after hearing how their commanders had been treated, refused to surrender. At this stage Mīr Ja’afar ’Alī Khān, Faqir-ullah Beg and Rājā Durlabhrām Rāi arrived and pressed the seige of Barabati and the garrison surrendered after a fortnight. The rains having set in, ’Alīwardī retired and Mīr Ḥabīb emerged from his safe retreat in the Garhjats. He fell upon the commanding officer at Katak six or seven days after the departure of ’Alīwardī and defeated and captured him. The news reached ’Alīwardī at Balasore, but as the monsoon was far advanced he left Orissa to its fate and retired to Murshidabad. 1