Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c28.s3.4

v2.c28.s3.4

Freed from the Jat menace, Najib marched to the Sonepat district (in the north of Delhi) for subduing the turbulent tenantry, who would not pay rent unless forced to do so. "Here many villages were in rebellion; their leaders were a body of Jats residing in Buānā (16 miles north-west of Delhi), who were notorious for their highway robbery and usurpation of other people's lands and cattle." Najib first went to the district headquarters and peacefully demanded the revenue. On being refused, he rode out at midnight with his troops, came upon the village at dawn, slew the Hindu abbot and his monks who had their hermitage near the place, and tried to seize the cattle that were being led out of the village to their pasture. The villagers opened fire with their matchlocks. A thousand of them were armed with muskets and 2,000 with side arms; besides, three hundred matchlockmen of the Bhangi (sweeper) caste had been hired by them. The Ruhela troopers encircled the village, standing beyond range. The villagers began to parley, but had no real intention of paying, they only mocked Najib.