The Battle of Kasur (also known as the Sacking of Kasur) took place in May 1763, where the Sikh Misls united their forces against the Afghan forces of Kasur. The Sikhs successfully infiltrated Kasur and defeated the Afghan army. The Sikhs would sack the town and successfully retrieved a Hindu Brahmin's wife, who had been kidnapped, from the Afghans.
| Battle of Kasur | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Afghan-Sikh wars | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Buddha Dal |
 Durrani Empire | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Hari Singh Dhillon Jhanda Singh Dhillon Charat Singh |
Usman Khan † Muhiuddin Khan † Hamid Khan (POW) | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
24,000[3] 8,000 (Sikh Sources)[4] | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | 500[3] | ||||||
Background
editThe Sikhs had gathered in Amritsar to celebrate the Vaisakhi festival which took place on 13 April 1763. During this time, some Brahmins complained about the treatment of Hindus under the Afghans of Kasur. Usman Khan an Afghan from Kasur had kidnapped a Hindu Brahmin's wife and converted her to Islam.[5]
Hari Singh Dhillon agreed to assist the Brahmins, but was opposed by the other Sikh leaders due to Kasur being well fortified with 12 forts.[3] But, Hari Singh insisted and Charat Singh also came to support him.[3]
Battle
editThe combined Sikh armies marched from Amritsar, and were joined by more Sikhs as they advanced, and by the time they reached Kasur, the Sikh army had exceeded 24,000 men.[3] Some Sikh scouts were sent into Kasur to gain information, and learned that the town and the Afghans of Kasur were completely unaware of the Sikh advance. The Afghans also spent the day in underground cells due to the summer heat.[3] The Sikhs took advantage of this, and entered the town mid-day.[3]
The Sikh armies infiltrating the city placed their watchmen at the gates of the city which they closed, and communication was completely cut preventing Afghans reinforcements to be.The Sikhs then plundered the town, with Usman Khan and 500 of his men being killed in the chaos.[3] The Brahmin was also returned to her husband.[3] In the battle, Ghulam Muhiuddin Khan was killed fighting, and his nephew Hamid Khan begged Jhanda Singh for mercy. He paid 400,000 rupees to save his life.[3]
Aftermath
editFollowing the capture of the city, Kasur was sacked, with large amounts of gold, money, and jewels being taken by the Sikhs.[3]
References
edit- ^ Singha,Bhagata (1993). A History of the Sikh Misals. Patiala, India:Publication Bureau, Punjabi University.
- ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (1939). History of the Sikhs, Volume 1. S.N. Sarkar, 1939. ISBN 9788121502481.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Gupta 1939, p. 184.
- ^ Bhangu, Rattan Singh (1914). Panth Prakash Vol.2 English Translation.
- ^ Gupta 1939, p. 183.
See also
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