History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c44.96

v2.c44.96

In June 1835 Captain Wilkinson wanted to strengthen the States of Saraikela, Khārsāwan and Bāmanghāṭi, as they lay between the Lārkā Kols of Singhbhum and Dholbhum and Barahbhum. Secretly encouraged by the Rājā of Singhbhum these Kols committed depredations in British Territories as well as in neighbouring Indian States. Captain Wilkinson’s efforts to persuade and secure these offenders through the Rājā of Singhbhum failed entirely, because the Rājā always shared in the plunder. Wilkinson now proposed to send troops to Sonpur consisting of 50 irregular horse and 250 men of the Rāmgaḍh battalion and a second detachment of 100 horse and 400 men of the Rāmgaḍh battalion with guns to Kera in Singhbhum, where they would be joined by troops sent from Saraikela and Kharsāwan. The Commanding Officer was to seize the Sardar under the Bābu of Kera. A third party of 100 men of the same battalion and 25 horse were to be sent as a reserve to Tamar. These arrangements were approved by the previous Governor-General. The troops left their headquarters on the 3rd December, and destroyed several villages belonging to the Kol chief between the 19th and the 21st of that month. With one or two exceptions the Sardars of all *ḍakāits* were captured. A free pardon was extended to guilty villagers and four *Tāluqas* belonging to the *ḍakāits* were taken away from the Rājā of Tamar and given to other influential Sardars.