Later Mughals v1.c9.s18.36

v1.c9.s18.36

By the Emperor's order the Guru Banda, with Taj Singh and another leader, was made over to Ibrahim-ud-din Khan, commander of the artillery, and they were placed in prison at the Tirpoliya or Triple Gate. The Guru's wife, his three-year-old infant, and the child's wet-nurse, were taken by Darbar Khan, the nazir, and placed in the harem. With the exception of between twenty and thirty of the chief men, who were sent to prison with the Guru, the remaining prisoners were made over for execution to Sarbarah Khan, the city kotwal or head of the police. The work began at the chabutra, or chief police office, on the 22nd Rabi I. (15th March 1716), and one hundred men were executed every day for a week. All observers, Indian and European, unite in remarking on the wonderful patience and resolution with which these men underwent their fate. Their attachment and devotion to their leader were wonderful to behold. They had no fear of death, they called the executioner Mukt, or the Deliverer,* they cried out to him joyfully "O Mukt! kill me first!" Every day one hundred victims met their fate and artificers were kept in attendance to sharpen the executioners' swords. After the heads had been severed from the bodies, the bodies were thrown into a heap, and at night-fall they were loaded into carts, taken out of the city, and hung up on the trees.†