Twilight of the Sultanate c6.s2.33

c6.s2.33

In the west Sārang Khan arrived at Deopalpur in June, 1394 (Sh'abān, 796 H).⁵¹ He began preparations to deal with Shaikha Khokhar who had occupied Lahore and had been left untouched by Prince Humayūn because of the demise of his royal father. At the end of the rainy season Sārang Khan started for Lahore with Rai Daljīt Bhatti of Bhatnīr, Rai Daūd of Jalandhar, Rai Kamāluddīn Maīn of Ludhiana and many other chiefs of the Punjab. He forded the Sutlej at the village of Tirhara,⁵² but his movements did not daunt his adversary. On the contrary, working on the principle that offence was the best form of defence, Shaikha plundered the suburbs of Deopalpur and laid siege to Ajodhan. Sārang Khan, undismayed, continued his march, and when Shaikha was convinced that Lahore would be invested, he hurried to its rescue. A well-contested engagement took place at Samuthala.⁵³ The Khokhar chief was routed and he fled towards the mountains of Jammu.⁵⁴ Sārang Khan placed Lahore under the command of his brother Khandu, entitled 'Ādil Khan, and himself returned to Deopalpur.⁵⁵