History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c44.94

v2.c44.94

The Kols of Bāmanghāṭi gave repeated trouble and on the 28th April plundered the Government Dāk-Chaukis in the Mayurbhañj State. Rājā Jadunāth Bhañja stated that this act was committed by two tribes of Kols at the instigation of the Kumār of Saraikela and Mādhavdās Mahāpātra in order to draw the displeasure of the British Government on Mayurbhañj. It was elicited during an enquiry that the offence was committed by the Kols of Lālgaḍh Pir who were adherents of Mādhavdās, headed by his cousin Ratanmaṇi, who gathered his adherents in the country of Kumār Ajambar Singh. The Kols also attacked a party of Sepoys returning from an outpost on relief and wounded three of them. Rājā Jadunāth Bhañja agreed to pay the expenses of the Rāmgadh battalion if they were stationed at Bāmanghāṭi and he permitted the utilisation of their services for the reduction of the Lālgaḍh and Āulā Pirs. Mādhavdās Mahāpātra had been ejected from his territory and was residing at Hazaribagh since December, utterly destitute and maintained by Captain Wilkinson. Rājā Jadunāth and Kumār Ajambar Singh of Saraikela were both warned that whoever broke the peace would be severely dealt with. The cost of repairing the Dāk Chaukis was paid by Rājā Jadunath Bhañja but the final decision of the Government was suspended till the receipt of the decision of the Court of Directors.