After Zakaria Khan’s death, his eldest son Yahya Khan became the governor of Punjab. He too, like his father, continued the hardline policies against the Sikhs. From the time of Zakaria Khan, there was a great interference in the administration of Lahore by Diwan Lakhpat Rai and his elder brother Jaspat Rai. Lakhpat Rai was the Diwan (head of the treasury) of Punjab, while Jaspat Rai was the commander of Aminabad. Both these brothers belonged to the Khatri family of Gurdaspur and rose to high positions through flattery. They even sold their religion to endure the atrocities of the Mughal government, so that their positions remained safe.
The Sikhs’ war and the attack of Jaspat Rai
The Mughal army was ordered to wipe out the Sikhs, in response to which the Dal Khalsa divided itself into 25 small groups and adopted the strategy of guerrilla warfare. The groups of Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Sukha Singh Mardi Kambon clashed with the Mughal army and fled towards the hills of Dalojhal. Jaspat Rai pursued them and surrounded them near Aminabad. The Sikhs pleaded that they had been hungry for three days, so they would leave after eating food. But Jaspat Rai refused and attacked with his army. The Sikhs, not giving up, decided to fight.
The bravery of Nibahu Singh and the end of Jaspat Rai
During the battle, a young Sikh named Nibahu Singh bravely climbed on Jaspat Rai’s elephant and severed his head from his body. This caused a stampede in the Mughal army, and the Sikhs took the field. Later, when Jaspat Rai’s family demanded his head back, the Sikhs returned it to him for a compensation of 500 rupees. This battle became an example of the bravery of the Sikhs and their struggle against Mughal oppression.
