Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c55.s7.7

v4.c55.s7.7

Thomas found his task no easy one. Throughout the winter of 1796-97, Bāpu Malhār, the governor of Sāharanpur, exerted himself to restore some appearance of order, but the Sikh sardārs associated with him as allies, were found to be intriguing with their brethren in the Panjab and stirring up rebellion against the Marātha Government.* The Sikh commandant of the flourishing market-town of Shāmli, though a servant of Gurdat Singh of Ladwā (a vassal of Sindhiā), was detected in this treasonable correspondence: his fort was attacked by Thomas, and the entire garrison including the commandant and his family, were put to the sword, (c. Dec. 1796). Immediately after this victory, Thomas proceeded northwards to Lakhnāuti and helped Bāpu Malhār in subduing Bahrāmand Ali Khan, the rebel Turkoman jāgirdār of that place. He then recrossed the Jamunā and defeated the Sikh confederates in four successive actions near Karnāl (c. March 1797.)