Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c8.s6.5

v1.c8.s6.5

captured the city of Katak without a blow. Its governor, Rājāh Durlabhrām, the son of the Nawāb’s *diwān* Jānakirām, was a timid priest-led sluggard, and his forces were quite inadequate for resistance, while the Nawāb’s absence in full strength in Bihār for fighting Mustafa removed all hope of succour coming from him to Katak. After shutting himself up in Barābāti, the fort of Katak, for a fortnight, Durlabhrām was so ill-advised as to pay a visit to Raghuji in his camp, where he and his party were all made prisoners. Durlabhrām was kept in captivity at Nāgpur, and it was only after paying three *lakhs* of Rupees that Janakiram could secure his son’s release nearly two years later (January, 1747). The fort of Katak, however, held out under the gallant Abdul Aziz and a garrison of only 400 men. But outside its walls all Orissā up to Medinipur passed into the hands of the Marāthas (April). Even Abdul Aziz at last surrendered the fort on condition of being paid his arrears of salary.