History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c41.350

v2.c41.350

Writing on the 12th April, 1791, Burrowes states that in his opinion Morār Pandit was more disposed to encourage Raghunāth Pikerā than to repress him. He forwarded a Ruidād Zabānbandī from parganah Barajeet, dated 7th Chaitra 1198 'Amli, of Śivacharan Bose Thānahdār, Kuśarām Majumdār Gumashtah, the Sadar Chaudhurī, Chhaku Navat, Udan Singh Hāvildār and Nolam Pāl. They state that they called the Gumashtah of the displaced zamindars before them, who stated that the English Company's guard house stood at that place and Dīwān Bhuban Mahāpātra and Hāru Pāṭnāik Sheristadar of the zamindar said that they themselves had burnt the guard-house. When asked why they were creating disturbances in the villages of Molampāl, Naispāl, Kubabisaji and Qila' Barajeet, they answered that these villages they will keep and that they possessed 1000 good talwārs which will be employed in the protection of these villages. Śivacharam Bose, etc., then placed a mark at the place where the guard-house stood and ordered the Hāvildār to build another guard-house. When the guard-house was being erected the deplaced zamindar, i.e., Raghunāth Pikerā, came with horsemen, Barguandāzes and Pāiks to the extent of four or five hundred men, ready to attack the English party. As night came on Śivacharam Bose, etc., retired to the zamindar’s Kāchhārī. Raghunāth Pikerā collected about 1500 men and surrounded the British party. Śivacharan Bose states that he tried to pacify the people and waited for orders. Burrowes sent copies of these statements to Morār Pandit, stating that strict orders had been received to fire upon Raghunāth Pikerā’s people if they created a disturbance. The Officer of the guard was ordered to proceed with the erection of the guard-house and adhere to the instructions received regarding firing in case of extreme necessity. Morār Pandit in his letter to Burrowes states that the zamindari of Barajeet held by Raghunāth Pikerā was “under the care of Mahā Rājā Leeta Behader,” a term which cannot be understood. Even if it stands for Mahārāja Senā or Sītā Bahādur, it cannot be identified. Morār Pandit states that the English had taken the parganah of Barajeet without making any enquiry and without reason and wanted to place another zamindar in the place of Raghunāth Pikerā. He states further that Raghunāth Pikerā has been written to go to Medinipur and pay his revenue (letter, dated 28th Rajab, 1198 Amli).