History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c62.s12.2

v4.c62.s12.2

But his first work was to ravage the Bijapuri territory with insane cruelty. By way of Bahmanhalli, Maknapur, and Jalgeri, he reached Tikota (13 m. w. of Bijapur), a rich and populous village, where the wealthy men of the neighbourhood had taken refuge with their families. "The Mughals were utterly unexpected. When Ikhlas Khan with [Dilir's] vanguard arrived there and began to plunder it, the wives of the Hindus and Muslims with their children jumped into the wells near their houses and committed suicide. The village was utterly sacked. Nearly 3,000 men, both Hindus and Muslims, were taken prisoner [for being sold into slavery.].........Leaving Tikota on 18th November, by way of Honvad and Telsang, ravaging the country and carrying off the people as slaves, the imperialists reached Athni (43 m. w. of Bijapur)." Here, according to the English factory records, a breach took place between the Mughal general and his Maratha ally. Athni, "a considerable mart," was burnt down and Dilir proposed to sell the inhabitants who were all Hindus into slavery. Shambhuji objected to it, but was over-ruled, and began to grow sick of his associates. On 21st November, Dilir left Athni for Ainapur, 12 miles westwards, but learnt on the way that Shambhuji had fled away to Bijapur the night before. Dilir immediately turned back towards Bijapur and sent his agent Khwajah Abdur Razzaq to that city to bribe the regent to arrest and deliver up the Maratha Prince (28th.) In the night of the 30th, Shambhuji, getting scent of the matter, slipped out of Bijapur, fell in with an escort sent by his father, and arrived at Panhala about the 4th of December.